Thursday, September 28, 2006

always late....(but worth the wait!)


If you received the email update from me this week, then you know that this Saturday we are headed to New Jersey to the trails...nice soft ground! Half-marathoners like me are scheduled to run 11 miles....while almost all of you are nice and snug in bed.

We wrangled up some people with cars and a few people were asked to rent a car, so Lindsay will be one of the drivers on Saturday. We are supposed to be at our meeting spot at 6:50am...no later....no exceptions. The mentors and coaches meeting us there were told not to wait.

Conversation between Kim and Lindsay:

L: okay...i'll come pick you up in the morning and then we can get jess then head to the park to meet everyone. we have to be there at 6:50 SHARP.
K: i know. so what time should i be ready?
L: 6:15am. SERIOUSLY. WE CANNOT BE LATE. WE HAVE TO BE THERE AT 6:50. I WILL HONK MY HORN AT YOU. BE OUTSIDE AT 6:15...NOT 6:20...I WILL LEAVE YOU.
K: i knoooowwww. okaaaaay. geez.

Okay, I know I tend to run late almost all the time, but come on. If you're gonna be right outside my door, I WILL BE ON TIME! Whenever I meet someone somewhere that I have to walk, I underestimate how long it will take to actually get there on foot. I don't leave y'all waiting on purpose. Swear! Like they say..."always late, but worth the wait." :-)

Anyways, Lindsay's mean and I just felt like sharing. I'll let you know if she ends up leaving me or not. hahaha.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

One Month to Go....


Just a little over a month left of training before we hit the hills of San Francisco.

Had a nice talk with Ramon, our coach, earlier this week so I'm back on track and refreshed and ready to do some hardcore training for the next 5 weeks and get some mileage knocked out.

Today's practice was cancelled but they advised us to join the New York RoadRunners on their long training run today. Well, that ended up being quickly filled up (had to register for it), so I just met my running buddy, Aviva, at 8:30am for our own run.

9 miles.

Okay....well, I ran about 8 and walked the last one just so I could get that last mile in. My legs wouldn't have made it and my feet were already incredibly swollen from the constant pounding against the concrete. I just had to get the mileage in no matter what. It should be easier next week.....it was unusually hot today and it was my first long run in a while.

We kept running into one guy during our run that called me "Texas" because I was wearing a UT shirt. "Way to go, Texas!" "Takin' a break, Texas?" etc. I like to think he had a little crush on me. hahaha. Runners in Central Park tend to be pretty friendly, I've noticed. We're all out there doing the same thing....you kinda have a connection with anyone else that is up early on a Saturday morning running 10+ miles. Sometimes you ask/answer random questions (which way is the boathouse? what mile is this? where'd you get your cute shorts?) and sometimes you get the chatty ones that run right beside you for more than 10 seconds and try to have a conversation ("hi...how you girls doing? blahblah....you're from texas? i'm from new mexico. i mean...i know it's not the same thing, but...they're right next to each other..um....so...how long have you been out here? blahblah..zzz" and you just want them to leave you alone). Sometimes it's cool and you discuss the marathon you're training for, which flavor Gu is the best, where you got your cute pink fuel belt -- basically, a conversation you wouldn't ever have with someone who isn't also a runner (*gasp* can you believe i'm actually considered a RUNNER now?).

Anyways....we love the CP runners. The bicylists are a different story. SO MEAN! Zooming past you and yelling to get out of their way. That's why the runners laugh when you fall! Here we are running our little hearts out, and you've got WHEELS. You don't even have to PEDAL on the downhill! Just sit. Grrr. Seriously....people on bikes are mean. If you've ever been a tourist in Central Park, then even you know what I'm talking about.

Okay....I got off on a tangent somehow. My bad.

My point is...I ran 9 miles today, and only 5 more weeks until San Francisco! We're all getting really excited. My friend, Tessa, is driving up from L.A. so I'm excited to see her again, too. Should be a blast...I can't wait!