Monday:
Spring break! Well, it is at the college. I still have to go to the kindergarten this afternoon. I thought I would sleep in, but that didn't happen. But that is probably better because of the 3 hour time difference between here and North Carolina.
I had my coffee and headed off on a run. Just a really nice easy day. Someone needs to do something about the porta potties at Granada. They are so disgusting! Who shits all over a toilet seat and just leaves it?
No one was available to pick up Ava from a friends house so I had to skip yoga. Not thrilled about this. We stopped at Target to get the stuff to make enchiladas but it was the kind of Target with a small grocery area so didn't have what we needed. We settled on frozen pizzas.
Invited Norm to join me on my easy run tomorrow morning.
Tuesday:
Up at 5:30am to cloudy skies and rain. Norm got up not long after me. We left for a run and he made it almost a mile before he had to turn back with stomach issues. He is now on strict orders to keep far away and not touch anything that I also touch.
Easy days are not great for my mental state. Too much time to ruminate about the sad state of affairs that is my life. I came home in not the best mood. Later in the day my friend I am staying with in North Carolina texted to ask how I was feeling about the race. My response was that I was so stressed about money I have barely had time to think about the race.
Got 9.5 miles done, mostly because I turned for home without thinking. HaShem was really putting on a show with the sky today. It was so beautiful. I love running on raining days. Not racing because I tend to get hypothermia easy but training is awesome.
Since I’m on spring break I was able to go to yoga at 9:30am instead of after the work. I stopped at the grocery store to get the stuff for dinner. FYI- 32ndStreet and Camelback is the best grocery store in town! Large Kosher and gluten free sections!
Came home and had time to shower and eat before heading to work.
It was so nice to get home and be able to sit down and relax for a bit. I listened to a podcast about Eschatology with Phil Torres. Now I want to read his book. Made enchiladas and worked on lessons for the college for next week. Since my plane doesn't land until 1:15am Monday and I teach at 8am I need to have everything ready to go for Monday morning.
I also find out I have a spot at Lake Sonoma. I am super excited about this, but if you have been reading this blog you know that financially things are a bit tricky at the moment. It has been suggested to me a few times over the last few years that I start a Go Fund Me page, but this feels very self indulgent and makes me feel uncomfortable. And to be honest I wouldn't handle people saying snarky things about me very well. I know there would be people who would judge and feel the need to make those judgments known.
Wednesday:
I am so bummed to be on a bit of a taper this week. The weather has been so beautiful and I am on spring break. I wish I could just run for hours. I come home and start laundry and start packing my bag.
I stop by iRun to get a new pair of shoes. Then a stop at Target to get some things we need for the house and most importantly a headphone jack for my stupid phone that does not have a headphone jack. I am sure one of the teenagers took the one that came with my phone.
Off to work and then back home. More laundry and packing. I am struggling with yoga or not? I want to go, but I don't want to get home at 7:30pm. I want to go, but I still need to pack. I want to go, but I don't want to drive across town. I want to go, but I don't want to have to stop and put gas in my car.
Somehow I managed to motivate myself to get to yoga. It wasn’t my best practice ever, but I was there. I get home with a lot to do, needing a shower and starving hungry. Norm tells me that the watchband I ordered doesn’t fit my watch. My reaction may have been a little over the top, but I blame it on my stress level.
I eat, shower, and finish packing. I look up my shipping options for a Suunto watch band and see that I can get one overnighted. But I have to wait until the morning because Yael is asleep and I don't have her address.
Spring break! Well, it is at the college. I still have to go to the kindergarten this afternoon. I thought I would sleep in, but that didn't happen. But that is probably better because of the 3 hour time difference between here and North Carolina.
I had my coffee and headed off on a run. Just a really nice easy day. Someone needs to do something about the porta potties at Granada. They are so disgusting! Who shits all over a toilet seat and just leaves it?
No one was available to pick up Ava from a friends house so I had to skip yoga. Not thrilled about this. We stopped at Target to get the stuff to make enchiladas but it was the kind of Target with a small grocery area so didn't have what we needed. We settled on frozen pizzas.
Invited Norm to join me on my easy run tomorrow morning.
Tuesday:
Up at 5:30am to cloudy skies and rain. Norm got up not long after me. We left for a run and he made it almost a mile before he had to turn back with stomach issues. He is now on strict orders to keep far away and not touch anything that I also touch.
Easy days are not great for my mental state. Too much time to ruminate about the sad state of affairs that is my life. I came home in not the best mood. Later in the day my friend I am staying with in North Carolina texted to ask how I was feeling about the race. My response was that I was so stressed about money I have barely had time to think about the race.
Got 9.5 miles done, mostly because I turned for home without thinking. HaShem was really putting on a show with the sky today. It was so beautiful. I love running on raining days. Not racing because I tend to get hypothermia easy but training is awesome.
Since I’m on spring break I was able to go to yoga at 9:30am instead of after the work. I stopped at the grocery store to get the stuff for dinner. FYI- 32ndStreet and Camelback is the best grocery store in town! Large Kosher and gluten free sections!
Came home and had time to shower and eat before heading to work.
It was so nice to get home and be able to sit down and relax for a bit. I listened to a podcast about Eschatology with Phil Torres. Now I want to read his book. Made enchiladas and worked on lessons for the college for next week. Since my plane doesn't land until 1:15am Monday and I teach at 8am I need to have everything ready to go for Monday morning.
I also find out I have a spot at Lake Sonoma. I am super excited about this, but if you have been reading this blog you know that financially things are a bit tricky at the moment. It has been suggested to me a few times over the last few years that I start a Go Fund Me page, but this feels very self indulgent and makes me feel uncomfortable. And to be honest I wouldn't handle people saying snarky things about me very well. I know there would be people who would judge and feel the need to make those judgments known.
Wednesday:
I am so bummed to be on a bit of a taper this week. The weather has been so beautiful and I am on spring break. I wish I could just run for hours. I come home and start laundry and start packing my bag.
I stop by iRun to get a new pair of shoes. Then a stop at Target to get some things we need for the house and most importantly a headphone jack for my stupid phone that does not have a headphone jack. I am sure one of the teenagers took the one that came with my phone.
Off to work and then back home. More laundry and packing. I am struggling with yoga or not? I want to go, but I don't want to get home at 7:30pm. I want to go, but I still need to pack. I want to go, but I don't want to drive across town. I want to go, but I don't want to have to stop and put gas in my car.
Somehow I managed to motivate myself to get to yoga. It wasn’t my best practice ever, but I was there. I get home with a lot to do, needing a shower and starving hungry. Norm tells me that the watchband I ordered doesn’t fit my watch. My reaction may have been a little over the top, but I blame it on my stress level.
I eat, shower, and finish packing. I look up my shipping options for a Suunto watch band and see that I can get one overnighted. But I have to wait until the morning because Yael is asleep and I don't have her address.
I love Saucony Kinavara! I wear them for everything. Road to trail, they are my favorite.
Thursday:
That 3:45am alarm was no fun. Coffee, get dressed, throw the last few things in the bag. I order a new watchband and pay a bill and we are off to the airport. I am a little surprised how busy the airport is this early in the morning. I go through security and get a coffee and bagel. There were not a lot of options for breakfast. I only eat half of the bagel.
The flight attendants on Frontier Airlines could stand to take a master class from the Southwest flight attendants. I got some assignment planning done on the plane.
Uneventful flight. Thank Gd. Waiting for Yael I was eating the rest of my bagel. I was tearing the bagel in half and half of it goes flying out of my hand and onto the ground. I had 2 clementines in my purse and ate those with the remaining quarter of a bagel.
Yael teaches yoga ta 5:15pm and I go with her to take her class. We grab dinner from Whole Foods. I had avocado sushi, half a sweet potato and 2 pieces of grilled pineapple. I drive her car back to her house. She has to stay to lead teacher training. I take Pixie out to pee, pour myself a big glass of wine and facetime my family.
That 3:45am alarm was no fun. Coffee, get dressed, throw the last few things in the bag. I order a new watchband and pay a bill and we are off to the airport. I am a little surprised how busy the airport is this early in the morning. I go through security and get a coffee and bagel. There were not a lot of options for breakfast. I only eat half of the bagel.
The flight attendants on Frontier Airlines could stand to take a master class from the Southwest flight attendants. I got some assignment planning done on the plane.
Uneventful flight. Thank Gd. Waiting for Yael I was eating the rest of my bagel. I was tearing the bagel in half and half of it goes flying out of my hand and onto the ground. I had 2 clementines in my purse and ate those with the remaining quarter of a bagel.
Yael teaches yoga ta 5:15pm and I go with her to take her class. We grab dinner from Whole Foods. I had avocado sushi, half a sweet potato and 2 pieces of grilled pineapple. I drive her car back to her house. She has to stay to lead teacher training. I take Pixie out to pee, pour myself a big glass of wine and facetime my family.
Yoga at CorePower
Friday:
I thought I would be up early without setting my alarm. Wrong! I didn't wake up until 7am. I finally pulled myself out of bed at 7:20am for some coffee.
I wasn’t really sure where to head for my run. Luckily sidewalks are everywhere here. I just headed out on a straight route so I wouldn't get lost. Sometimes the sidewalks just end and would have to cross the road. The weather was beautiful! Low 60’s and cloudy with a nice breeze.
We had the yummiest food for lunch. We went to Sassool for lunch. I have to find a place like this back home. Tons of vegan and GF options. The place was packed so you know it’s good.
Yael and I did a Target run. She has the best Target I have ever been to and I am very jealous. I had some down time to read. I am reading a book called Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright. He is an evolutionary psychologist and I am using his book in the psychology classes I teach, but I am really enjoying the book.
My watchband came in the mail. There are no screws, it’s held together with a tension pin. I watched a video and then called Norm. How the hell am I meant to get this off? In the end I got a kitchen knife out. The first part of the band was surprisingly easy. The second part took a little more work than I was prepared for, but in the end I was successful. I am so happy to have a working watchband again. And I love the blue color.
We made a Starbucks run and then dropped the kids to swim before heading to the expo. After a little confusion on my part about where to pick up my bib number (the elite numbers were a bit hidden in a back corner). I walk up and tell them my name and after checking a list the guy says, “did you register …” trailing off. Panic strikes. Did I come all this way and they forgot? But quickly he says, “oh here you are.” I get my bib number, my shirt and my parking pass and I am on my way.
Yael digs out some tea lights so we can light Shabbos candles. Later we went to a Thai restaurant with lots of gluten free options. The Apex/Cary gluten free game is strong.
I thought I would be up early without setting my alarm. Wrong! I didn't wake up until 7am. I finally pulled myself out of bed at 7:20am for some coffee.
I wasn’t really sure where to head for my run. Luckily sidewalks are everywhere here. I just headed out on a straight route so I wouldn't get lost. Sometimes the sidewalks just end and would have to cross the road. The weather was beautiful! Low 60’s and cloudy with a nice breeze.
We had the yummiest food for lunch. We went to Sassool for lunch. I have to find a place like this back home. Tons of vegan and GF options. The place was packed so you know it’s good.
Yael and I did a Target run. She has the best Target I have ever been to and I am very jealous. I had some down time to read. I am reading a book called Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright. He is an evolutionary psychologist and I am using his book in the psychology classes I teach, but I am really enjoying the book.
My watchband came in the mail. There are no screws, it’s held together with a tension pin. I watched a video and then called Norm. How the hell am I meant to get this off? In the end I got a kitchen knife out. The first part of the band was surprisingly easy. The second part took a little more work than I was prepared for, but in the end I was successful. I am so happy to have a working watchband again. And I love the blue color.
We made a Starbucks run and then dropped the kids to swim before heading to the expo. After a little confusion on my part about where to pick up my bib number (the elite numbers were a bit hidden in a back corner). I walk up and tell them my name and after checking a list the guy says, “did you register …” trailing off. Panic strikes. Did I come all this way and they forgot? But quickly he says, “oh here you are.” I get my bib number, my shirt and my parking pass and I am on my way.
Yael digs out some tea lights so we can light Shabbos candles. Later we went to a Thai restaurant with lots of gluten free options. The Apex/Cary gluten free game is strong.
My lunch from Sassool. I wish I could eat here every day!
New friends
Pixie is helping me clean my plate.
Saturday:
I set an alarm so I could get up to run with Yael. She and Pixie (her dog) joined me for the first half of my run. Yael took me to downtown Apex and on a wonderful paved path that ran in between neighborhoods. It’s wooded and there is a lovely little creek. After Yael went back home I headed back out on the path and made a big loop back to the house for 8 miles. I could have run for so long because the morning was perfect for running.
I had oatmeal with a little maple syrup and walnuts for breakfast. I hang out in bed and listen to podcasts while playing games on my phone. I talk to Norm for a few minutes. After lunch I feel sleepy and take a small nap. I always find it funny that the day before race I feel sleepy even though I haven't really done anything.
I get up and listen to some more podcasts. I think about a half mile walk to coffee shop but decide against it. When Yael is home from work we go to Target to get pizza for dinner. And some dairy free ice cream.
I make my pizza and have some wine. I head to bed pretty early (after my ice cream of course).
I set an alarm so I could get up to run with Yael. She and Pixie (her dog) joined me for the first half of my run. Yael took me to downtown Apex and on a wonderful paved path that ran in between neighborhoods. It’s wooded and there is a lovely little creek. After Yael went back home I headed back out on the path and made a big loop back to the house for 8 miles. I could have run for so long because the morning was perfect for running.
I had oatmeal with a little maple syrup and walnuts for breakfast. I hang out in bed and listen to podcasts while playing games on my phone. I talk to Norm for a few minutes. After lunch I feel sleepy and take a small nap. I always find it funny that the day before race I feel sleepy even though I haven't really done anything.
I get up and listen to some more podcasts. I think about a half mile walk to coffee shop but decide against it. When Yael is home from work we go to Target to get pizza for dinner. And some dairy free ice cream.
I make my pizza and have some wine. I head to bed pretty early (after my ice cream of course).
Sunday:
The alarm goes off at 5am. Ugh. I had a small headache all night. And it’s cold. I get up and what do I discover? Yep, I started my period. Unbelievable! I go get coffee and wait for Yael to come downstairs so I can ask for a tampon. Now I am stressed out. I never run well the day I start my period. I have even walked off a race course because I feel so terrible. If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time than you know I get headaches and stomach aches and have zero energy the first day of my period. After I get some tampons I go back to bed and sit under the covers while I finish my coffee. At 5:30am I start getting dressed and eat a granola bar. We leave the house on time at 6am. I had been told that because I had a parking pass there was no reason to get there early. But the start was a lot farther from parking than I expected. I also had to wait in a really long line to go to the bathroom. I text Yael and tell her to bring my stuff and meet me at the bathrooms. By the time I get finished they are filing everyone into the start chute and there is no time to warm up. My warm is basically me jumping and down and bending over to touch my toes.
I guess it worked okay because I had not trouble going fast at the start. It’s a little crowded with the half and the full starting together, but it only lasts a couple miles before we take a right turn and they take a left. It is a beautiful paved path lined with large trees. Unfortunately those beautiful trees were completely messing up my Suunto. My pace was constantly bouncing from 7:40 to 5:50 pace and I knew that neither of those was true. Every time there was a clearing in the trees I would get a chance to see my actual pace. My goal was to run 6:30 pace through the half and then let myself assess the situation and slow down if necessary. I had a pack of guys that helped me out a lot, especially since I suck at pacing and my watch was basically useless. I fell off a bit at 13 and 14, but picked it back up for 15 and 16. From they pace went up and down for a few miles due to so long gradual climbs and nice fast down hills. I had to stop to poop at about mile 16 and I lost one of gels so after taking one at mile 8 I didn't have another until about mile 18. It was longer than I wanted and I was feeling hungry by the time I took it. That’s not good. I spent some time running with a guy who was way too happy and pacing someone to a sub 3 marathon (the person he was pacing wasn’t happy at all). The pacer call out, “a 10K left!” and I yell out, “I hate 10K’s!” This made him laugh and we chatted a bit. The last 4 miles I just felt like I had zero energy. I knew if I could pick it up to 7 minute miles I could still run a sub 3 hour marathon, but I just couldn't do it. I can’t tell you how bad I wanted to walk. My legs were dead. I tried to make a big push coming into the last half mile. It was tricky with walking half marathonerss spread out. I am not complaining and criticizing, good for them! It just made things crowded and hard to navigate. But I ran out of steam and ended up finishing in 3:01. That sounds so slow. I like the sound of I ran a marathon at a 6:51 average pace better.
The whole race I knew I was 2nd female. It’s out and back so that makes that easy to watch and also everyone kept telling me. With about 4 miles left a girl passed me. Super nice and really trying to encourage me to go with her. I finally said, “it’s okay, I have a 50 mile race in a month I am happy with what I am doing now.” Okay she replied and took off. When I finished there was a guy at standing there taking official times that confirmed I was 3rdfemale. But when it was time for awards they called someone else’s name for the 3rdfemale and I was given the award for 1stmaster’s. I was confused and Yael and I talked about what to do. I was sure I was 3rdand so was Yael, but what if I wasn’t? I didn't want to cause a scene and I wasn’t sure what to say or what to do. There is a prize purse difference but I didn't want to seem greedy. So we left. But we kept talking about it. And when we looked at the results the girl they awarded 3rdplace to only had a split for the 18 mile mark and no others. Yael has a friend on the board and she texted her to ask what I should do. She responded immediately that I should email the race and provided an email address. So I emailed and explained what I thought and why and included the part about the splits. The replied to let me know that timing would look into it. I quickly heard back that it appears she only ran the half and the results would be amended to reflect that I was 3rdfemale. And they were, really quickly. I don't think this girl was trying to cheat. I think she signed up for the full and either changed her mind and decided to run the half or signed up for the full because the half filled up but never really intended to run the full. Yael said the half fills up quickly every year and it isn't uncommon for people to register for the full but really they just want to run the half.
Okay, back to post race. We went home to shower. Then we had lunch at a BBQ joint, my suggestion. I mean, I can't come to the South and not eat BBQ! We took Pixie downtown and walked around. Pixie poops in someones yard and we don't have any bags. I pull receipts out of my purse to pick up poop and drop it in the paper shopping bag we had from buying Yael’s daughter some shoes. We got a glass of wine, which I clearly deserved. Then we went to CoreRestore at Core Power. A little dinner and another glass of wine at Whole Foods before Yael dropped me at the airport. My flight doesn't leave until 11:16pm, but I didn’t want her to have to bring me that late so I told her to just drop me and I would keep myself busy. The Raleigh airport is dead at 9pm on a Sunday night.
I feel really good. Not sore at all. Which probably means I didn't run as hard as I could. I think those slow miles at the end where due to a lack of energy that probably came from a lack of calories.
If you are wondering about the Tobacco Road marathon, I definitely recommend it. The full didn't seem any where near as crowded as the half. The water stations are plentiful. The course is beautiful if you pay attention to that sort of thing. They say the last 10K is downhill, I dispute that claim. And there was a long gradual uphill that was amazing when you ran down it but not when you ran up in the last 5 or so miles of the race. You definitely want to buy the parking pass. Apex and Cary are great cities! Very walkable. Lots of nice places for running. I am already planning to come back next year. If you are looking for a small marathon, I definitely recommend this one.
The alarm goes off at 5am. Ugh. I had a small headache all night. And it’s cold. I get up and what do I discover? Yep, I started my period. Unbelievable! I go get coffee and wait for Yael to come downstairs so I can ask for a tampon. Now I am stressed out. I never run well the day I start my period. I have even walked off a race course because I feel so terrible. If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time than you know I get headaches and stomach aches and have zero energy the first day of my period. After I get some tampons I go back to bed and sit under the covers while I finish my coffee. At 5:30am I start getting dressed and eat a granola bar. We leave the house on time at 6am. I had been told that because I had a parking pass there was no reason to get there early. But the start was a lot farther from parking than I expected. I also had to wait in a really long line to go to the bathroom. I text Yael and tell her to bring my stuff and meet me at the bathrooms. By the time I get finished they are filing everyone into the start chute and there is no time to warm up. My warm is basically me jumping and down and bending over to touch my toes.
I guess it worked okay because I had not trouble going fast at the start. It’s a little crowded with the half and the full starting together, but it only lasts a couple miles before we take a right turn and they take a left. It is a beautiful paved path lined with large trees. Unfortunately those beautiful trees were completely messing up my Suunto. My pace was constantly bouncing from 7:40 to 5:50 pace and I knew that neither of those was true. Every time there was a clearing in the trees I would get a chance to see my actual pace. My goal was to run 6:30 pace through the half and then let myself assess the situation and slow down if necessary. I had a pack of guys that helped me out a lot, especially since I suck at pacing and my watch was basically useless. I fell off a bit at 13 and 14, but picked it back up for 15 and 16. From they pace went up and down for a few miles due to so long gradual climbs and nice fast down hills. I had to stop to poop at about mile 16 and I lost one of gels so after taking one at mile 8 I didn't have another until about mile 18. It was longer than I wanted and I was feeling hungry by the time I took it. That’s not good. I spent some time running with a guy who was way too happy and pacing someone to a sub 3 marathon (the person he was pacing wasn’t happy at all). The pacer call out, “a 10K left!” and I yell out, “I hate 10K’s!” This made him laugh and we chatted a bit. The last 4 miles I just felt like I had zero energy. I knew if I could pick it up to 7 minute miles I could still run a sub 3 hour marathon, but I just couldn't do it. I can’t tell you how bad I wanted to walk. My legs were dead. I tried to make a big push coming into the last half mile. It was tricky with walking half marathonerss spread out. I am not complaining and criticizing, good for them! It just made things crowded and hard to navigate. But I ran out of steam and ended up finishing in 3:01. That sounds so slow. I like the sound of I ran a marathon at a 6:51 average pace better.
The whole race I knew I was 2nd female. It’s out and back so that makes that easy to watch and also everyone kept telling me. With about 4 miles left a girl passed me. Super nice and really trying to encourage me to go with her. I finally said, “it’s okay, I have a 50 mile race in a month I am happy with what I am doing now.” Okay she replied and took off. When I finished there was a guy at standing there taking official times that confirmed I was 3rdfemale. But when it was time for awards they called someone else’s name for the 3rdfemale and I was given the award for 1stmaster’s. I was confused and Yael and I talked about what to do. I was sure I was 3rdand so was Yael, but what if I wasn’t? I didn't want to cause a scene and I wasn’t sure what to say or what to do. There is a prize purse difference but I didn't want to seem greedy. So we left. But we kept talking about it. And when we looked at the results the girl they awarded 3rdplace to only had a split for the 18 mile mark and no others. Yael has a friend on the board and she texted her to ask what I should do. She responded immediately that I should email the race and provided an email address. So I emailed and explained what I thought and why and included the part about the splits. The replied to let me know that timing would look into it. I quickly heard back that it appears she only ran the half and the results would be amended to reflect that I was 3rdfemale. And they were, really quickly. I don't think this girl was trying to cheat. I think she signed up for the full and either changed her mind and decided to run the half or signed up for the full because the half filled up but never really intended to run the full. Yael said the half fills up quickly every year and it isn't uncommon for people to register for the full but really they just want to run the half.
Okay, back to post race. We went home to shower. Then we had lunch at a BBQ joint, my suggestion. I mean, I can't come to the South and not eat BBQ! We took Pixie downtown and walked around. Pixie poops in someones yard and we don't have any bags. I pull receipts out of my purse to pick up poop and drop it in the paper shopping bag we had from buying Yael’s daughter some shoes. We got a glass of wine, which I clearly deserved. Then we went to CoreRestore at Core Power. A little dinner and another glass of wine at Whole Foods before Yael dropped me at the airport. My flight doesn't leave until 11:16pm, but I didn’t want her to have to bring me that late so I told her to just drop me and I would keep myself busy. The Raleigh airport is dead at 9pm on a Sunday night.
I feel really good. Not sore at all. Which probably means I didn't run as hard as I could. I think those slow miles at the end where due to a lack of energy that probably came from a lack of calories.
If you are wondering about the Tobacco Road marathon, I definitely recommend it. The full didn't seem any where near as crowded as the half. The water stations are plentiful. The course is beautiful if you pay attention to that sort of thing. They say the last 10K is downhill, I dispute that claim. And there was a long gradual uphill that was amazing when you ran down it but not when you ran up in the last 5 or so miles of the race. You definitely want to buy the parking pass. Apex and Cary are great cities! Very walkable. Lots of nice places for running. I am already planning to come back next year. If you are looking for a small marathon, I definitely recommend this one.
Yael had a green mimosa at Peak of the Vine.
This was the first time Pasta didn't get to take a trip with me and she was really happy to have me home.
