So Proud

Matt had his senior trumpet recital this afternoon.

He's a music education major. He did just great. We were all so proud. His first piece (3 movements from 19 Norwegian Folk Songs by Edvard Grieg) was a quartet.

The next three (Concerto in D by Giuseppe Torelli, Sonata for Trumpet and Piano by Halsey Stevens and Rondo for Life by Leonard Bernstein) were solo, accompanied by Dr. Brisson on piano.

The Halsey Stevens piece was very long and very difficult. But he mastered it. After the recital there was a reception. I can't believe I didn't take any photos of all those cookies. Guess I was too busy making and pouring punch. :-( I used the punch bowl that was my mom's.

Afterwards we went to Jefferson's for a bite to eat. I had a cup of chili with corn bread and a house salad.

Back to the morning. There were 7 deer out front eating the fallen crab apples.

Shortly thereafter, I was off to Panera to run with whomever showed up. It was ... Jean, John, Laura, Tom, Kristin, Dave and myself.

We ran out the Cascade Lake trail and I noticed that the red-winged blackbirds are already out. I DO.NOT.LIKE those birds.

Dave, Kristin, Laura, Tom

I got in 10.00 miles. My back is not bothering me while running though it isn't quite 100% yet. But better every day. The medial side of my left foot hurts though. Always something it seems.

I got the final Boston Marathon mailing from the BAA yesterday. Haven't opened it yet. Typical race info I'm sure as well as packet pickup card.

Fetzer notes: today is the last day to register at the reduced price. You still have a couple of hours!! Thank you to those who have volunteered to help in the last couple of days. I REALLY appreciate it. Still need more though, especially at water stops.

Good night bleaders.

I Can't Believe It

I went to bed last night with a sore lower back. It hurt just to roll over. So my morning was very uncertain ... would I be able to run or not? I decided to give it a shot since I woke up with my back feeling much better. Not 100%, but good enough to at least try running. Not knowing if I'd be able to run, I opted out of putting in any early miles and joined the big group at 7:15 for the scheduled 18.6 mile route. It seemed that there were at least 50 runners again. There's always a good turnout unless the weather is brutal. I only had a piece of toast before I left, and grabbed 3 90-calorie granola bars for the (hopeful) run. Should have eaten a bit more,and drank a bit more before leaving, but it worked out fine.

We headed west from the RAC, south on County 22 and east to the Mayo Credit Union where we had our first water stop. My back didn't bother me at all. I felt great. Then we made our way down to Bamber Valley School and then the Merrihills loop. I slowed down a bit on the hill, but otherwise felt good. For some reason, I thought we were supposed to run on the Mayowood bike path so that's where I headed. When I got to the shaded part of the path, it was snow- and ice-covered. It then dawned on me that we were supposed to go by THINK bank and up to 16th St SW. So I retraced my steps and made my way over to the prescribed route. It's all miles ... no harm done. :-) When we got over by the mall, it was apparent that a race was going on (Race for Research 5K and 10K). So it was fun to cheer for the people I knew. Rob Mitchell handily won the 5K and I saw Mary Chestolowski a couple of times during her 10K. It looked like she would easily win it. I couldn't remember exactly how we were supposed to run around the Soldier's Field area and it looked like people were running quite the variety of routes (and Laura, who was doing the water stop there, agreed!). I stretched the loops out and went around the memorial and on Memorial Parkway cuz I just wanted extra mileage anyway. On my third loop I headed back west and left the loop on the bike path near the 52 frontage road and up past Folwell School, 2nd St SW, County 22, past the RAC to .2 past highway 52 and then back to the RAC. I'd wanted to keep the first digit of my pace either a "7" or an "8". I doubt that I kept that 100% of the time, but I was running 8:29 pace at 23.50 miles, that much I know. I was pleased as punch. The best long run in a long time, and at a time when I really needed a good one. In my mind, Boston is/was going to take me about 4:30 to finish. That's just the shape I'm in. But maybe, just maybe, on a very good day, and if I'm rested and uninjured (running injury or otherwise), I'll be able to finish a little bit faster than that.  So ... mileage for the day was 23.70.

I was looking through my running log for the year thus far and I've run quite a few 20+ milers before Boston. Starting with 12/30/10: 20.07 miles, 1/15: 18.51 mile run plus 6+ mile hike in the Sierra Nevadas, 1/22: 20.32 miles (with a 45:33 10K race after the first 11.08 miles), 2/5: 21.25 miles, 2/12: 21.50 miles, 2/19: 20.15 miles, 3/5: 20.14 miserable miles, 3/12: 23.40 even more miserable miles, 3/26: 23.70 very good miles. 59.71 miles this week. Down a little (but not quite as much as I thought), but a few more speedy miles, including 3 x 9 minutes at about 7 minute pace on Tuesday. But it made a difference in how my long run went, despite the pulled muscle in my lower back.

I think I'm going to break out a new pair of shoes this week so I have some decent footwear for the marathon. Same old same old ... asics 2160s. But they work great (for me). Still undecided about Fool's Five next weekend. Maybe. Maybe not. I'm really hesitant to run a race I've done before because I know I won't PR it, and that's really hard for me.

I met some friends at Zzest this evening.

Barbara and Amos

Kathryn and I

I tried one of Barbara's mussels. My first one EVER. Interesting texture, but good.

I was going to order the salmon, but since I let myself eat whatever I want on the day of a 20-miler, I order the bread plate and ... a scoop of salted caramel ice cream. Weird, yeah. But it's what I felt like eating.

I've been baking pretty much all day for Matt's recital tomorrow.

100+ cookies already. I'll make a batch of Peanut Sitting Pretties in the morning. I might meet up with the folks at Panera at 8:00 AM for a few miles if I 1) have my baking done, and 2) my legs are up to it.

Once again, it's late and I'm tired. Sweet dreams ...

Happy Birthday, Jean!

It's Jean's birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEAN!! So we got dressed up ...

and Jean and Amy came over for a few minutes, and a few sips of Jean's Portuguese wine (which I said tasted a lot like Port ... cuz it turns out it was!), before we we met Laura at ...

for dinner.

I had the pork medallions with rhubarb chutney, Jean had the seafood gumbo, and Laura and Amy had something that sounded very interesting ... barracuda. It was firm and flaky, and I have to say, tasty. Ostrich was also on the menu. (I look very hunched over in this photo. DISLIKE.) It was my first time @ Prescott's. Their bread was delicious. My meal was OK.

I brought half of it home. Next time I think I will try the roasted beets over butternut squash ravioli. Sounds like a delightful combination. Since it was Jean's birthday, she got free "fire roasted white chocolate" ice cream which we all split. It was very good.

Hope you had a wonderful day, Jean! I'm sure glad I got to celebrate with you. :-)

This morning I was putting on a pair of tights before going to work and I pulled something in my lower back. Totally frustrating. So now I don't know if I'll be able to run in the AM. Might have to do my long run later in the weekend or even Monday. I managed to run a mile this afternoon and it felt ok, but very slow, after I got going. Getting going was a little tough. Amy told me how to stretch it out, which I will do soon.

This afternoon I got my hair cut and highlighted which makes for a good day. I decided to put on my 2008 Boston Marathon Image Impact jacket, which also makes me feel good. I like those Image Impact jackets. I wish they still made them.

I had a little makeup session at a cosmetic counter at a large department store on Wednesday. I have to say, the end result WASN'T me. I don't even want to post the photos I have. I always have red, ruddy cheeks (the only makeup I have on is eyeshadow and mascara)

and she put on some foundation that specifically covers redness. When I looked in the mirror, I thought I was looking at a corpse. And the way she did my eyes, and the amount of makeup sitting in my wrinkles, aged me drastically. Totally not me. I might give this idea another shot, but heavy make-up is not going to be part of my daily routine any time soon. It's just not me. I temporarily put a close-up of my eyes in this post. Had to take it out. Don't want to scare you ...

It's late, I'm tired, and I'm going to bed. Good night ...

Checkin' In, redux

Checkin' in ... 10.10 miles Thursday. 6.18 today, so far. There's always time for more. :-) Usually.

I've gotten a few more volunteers for the Fetzer 20K on April 9 since my last plea. THANK YOU. However, I still need lots more. Once again, if you can help out, please email me. If you haven't registered, please do. Registration fees go up in a couple of days (and you lose your RTC discount for procrastinating ... run--no matter what the weather!)

Thursday at Team RED, Jim Parry will be speaking. (Byron, The Bear's Den, 6 PM). From Tom O': Don't set your limits...go out and find them! That''s the message Jim (Mr.) Parry is bringing to the Bears Den in Byron on Thursday, March 24th at 5:30pm Come out and hear Jim speak on his Endurance challenge of 7 marathon in 7 days.. with the last one being at the Med City Marathon! In addition to the challenge, Jim will speak on motivation and challenging your own limits. Join us for the talk at 5:30pm, then join us for a run or walk at 6pm... routes will be in the range of 3, 4 or 6 miles (your choice!)

One more long run before Boston. The weather for Saturday sounds .... COLD. Much like it's been for the last 5 or 6 months now. :-(

Checkin' out ...

Checkin' In

AM run: 11.16 miles (including a few errands). Still fretting about the poor shape I'm in this racing season. But that's the way it is. At least I'm running ....

Still need LOTS of volunteers (and runners) for the Fetzer 20K and 2 mile on April 9. If I don't get enough volunteers to safely hold the event, I'll have to cancel. If you can spare a few hours that morning, PLEASE send me an email. THANK YOU so very much.

Matt's senior recital (trumpet) is on Sunday. He's asked me to bake lots of cookies for the reception afterwards. I'm pleased as punch to do that for him. I'm so very proud of him ... can't wait to hear him play.

Gotta get busy ...

Yup, Still Alive

Raining here this morning. :-( But that's OK.

Just a quick post ... did my long run Friday morning (16.12). Ran 8.01 yesterday (with a few "quick" miles thrown in) and a few "quick" miles during the early miles of my long run. Feeling OK, but I know Boston is not going to be a PR. I'd certainly be happy with a (BAA revamped) BQ, but I'll take a finisher's medal any day.

Bart Yasso posted this on Facebook about a week ago. I think it's interesting:

My half marathon workout predictor, 20 X 400 with a 200 recovery jog. Do the 400s in your half marathon goal time.


And Bart on Marathon finishing times:

Out of my 15 marathons, the formula failed only once, making the 800s a good predictor for my marathon finish time.

Here's a link to the theory behind "Yasso 800s".

Pat Brown forwarded me an email recently about the "Real Meaning of Words". I thought some of the photos were pretty powerful:

LOVE

DEPARTURE

SORROW

INNOCENCE

Sorry this is so short ...

Hey There!!

There's spring in the air. I can feel it. I can see it. I like it.

Team R.E.D. is gathering tonight ... and it's St. Pat's Day!! I'm sure there be lots of rabble-rousing going on. Check out all the Team R.E.D. info on the Team R.E.D. blog.

Saturday will once again bring some early miles. 6 @ 6:15, actually. RAC parking lot

The BAA has assigned bib numbers for this year. They're based on qualifying times. I've been assigned bib number 13213 which puts me in wave 2 (numbers 9,000 to 17,999). So I've strictly average. But I already knew that ... The way my running is going, it's going to be a decidedly below-average marathon. S-l-o-w.

Jim Mason is thinking of adding a 50K to the Chester Woods line-up in June. More info on Chester Woods Trail Run blog.

Groupon was offering half price Running Room gift certificates ($50 for $25) so I bought two. Good deal. I love getting stuff for half price (assuming I'll actually use it ... and I will!)

Enjoy your day!!