Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree!

Ahh, Christmas decorating. Nothing is more relaxing and fun than getting ready for the holidays.

It's Scooter's 1st Christmas, so the tree and the decorations and the wrapping paper are all new to him -- I already lost part of an ornament (let's just say it was a stuffed bear with skis, and now it's just a stuffed bear) -- here he is inspecting the ornaments on the lower branches. He's not sure if we're playing a game by having toys suspended at nose height, or if we're torturing him; it's kinda nerve wracking for a Beagle.

Obviously my hip feels fine now, fine enough to be standing on chairs and decorating. I took some aspirin this morning and stretched as best I could, and as the day progressed, it got looser and felt improved. I think I'll be fine to run tomorrow -- it's supposed to be cold (down into the 40s!) so it really will be like a Winter Wonderland, sans snow. I'll have to dig around for some warm weather running clothes, hmmm, I don't know if I own any of those.


We tried to put Scooter into some reindeer antlers, but he wasn't having any of that. He briefly snuggled my husband as if to say "thanks, but no thanks" and then wrestled out of them. It was cute for about 30 seconds. That's how long "cute" lasts in our house.

Maybe next year for Christmas our house will be finished; of course, that's what we wished for last year as well.

Hip Bone's Connected to the What?

Today I'm walking like an old lady. Particularly, I am sore and achy in my right hip which feels unbelievably tight and painful. When I was walking Scooter this morning, I felt like I was hobbling along. Looked it up in one of my running books (I prefer to self-diagnose) -- could be a mild case of bursitis: tendon rubs against bursa sacs and causes inflammation.

I'm going to ice it some this morning, take some aspirin, and try to stretch it out. I'll see how it feels tomorrow. I've never been this sore after a run before, yet I'm hesitant to run to the orthopedist; besides, he'd just tell me to do the same: ice, aspirin, stretch.

In other news, I slept like crap again last night, which is weird since I was so tired after running and I spent most of the evening laying in bed watching TV, struggling to keep my eyes open. Then, we turned out the light, and I was awake. This time I can't really blame the husband or the dog, I just couldn't keep my mind from racing. I tried getting up and reading for awhile, then I blogged some, then I went to bed -- still nothing. I moved into the guest bedroom to see if location helped; it didn't.

Finally, I went back in the bedroom and must've just been exhausted and then I fell asleep. This morning, I feel like I could sleep all day, but I figure I've got to get up -- if I sleep late, I may have the same problem again this evening.

Sweet Sixteen

My husband and I were dog-sitting today over at a friend's house, so I decided to plot my route from their house instead of from my own. At first, I was planning the normal long route, but then I thought about my friends' neighborhood, with its straightforward grid-like blocks, and then I plotted out what was essentially a track loop that was 1.6 miles.

1.6 X 10 laps = 16 miles

I figured I'd give it a try. The advantage of trying this was that I wouldn't be far in case I had another spill or if I got tired and couldn't finish. Plus, by running by their house in each lap, I had an easy pit stop.

The first 8 miles went really well and I was feeling great, but then in 9 and 10, I started tightening up and feeling tired; also, the track idea was beginning to feel monotonous. In one way, it was mentally advantageous because the distance was broken down into very conceivable, easy distances, but after passing the same stuff for the upteenth time, I was beginning to feel bored. The last 3 laps were hard, and the last lap, the last 1.6 miles, was brutal. It was a one-foot-in-front-of-the-other effort and I had to walk part of it. But I finished. As far as the upper body (i.e. lung capacity, stomach sensitivity), I was feeling just fine. But the lower body (i.e. my hips, knees, ankles, and feet) was stiff and sore by the end. My right hip and left knee were particularly aching; plus, a blister developed on my already bruised second-in-command toe.

After showering and eating, I now feel pretty darn good, tired, but good. However, I have mixed feelings about meeting the distance. On the one hand, it felt great to accomplish that mileage, but on the other, I'm thinking about how tired I was at the end and how the marathon will be another 10.2 miles in addition to that 16. But I guess I just have to be confident that when it comes time for the race, I'll be able to get it done.

For now, I'm glad to get that 16 miler done. This week's long run is a little easier, 12 miles, but then next week it's the big 18.

Can't Sleep

Possibilities for why I can't fall asleep tonight:

1. Husband is snoring; snoring alternates between machine-gun rattles and train-engine blares.

2. Dog was positioned directly beneath my legs; he is not allowing me to fully stretch out.

3. I had, perhaps, had too much coffee today -- I can see my pulse in my neck.

4. I have a mild case of heartburn -- maybe I shouldn't have settled on that 11 o'clock "snack" that meant eating the rest of the chicken bowtie salad I made today.

5. I have too many things running through my mind; they range from thinking about the x-mas shopping I have left, to thinking about money, to trying to remember a song title when I can't even fully think of the song I'm trying to think of, to wondering if the platypus is proof that God does exist or proof that God does not exist, to feeling dismayed that the dog chewed through the comforter yesterday.

Something tells me that my run won't be first thing in the morning.

Grody Toenails

I know that not everyone wants to open up this blog and see pictures of my feet, but it's my blog and, you know, "I do what I want!"

So, a tour for the damaged toes: To the left, we have my newly bruised second-in-command toe. This bruise bloomed after the 13 miler 2 weeks ago. When my big toe (other foot) bruised last spring, I thought it was because of poor shoes, but after doing some research, I find that most agree it's just the result of the repeated pressure on the toes and it is commonly called "runner's toe." Sometimes the nail needs to be removed -- mostly it falls off on its own without nay risk of infection.

So, below: we have the aforementioned big toe. Sweet Jesus, is it gross. Therefore, I find it totally awesome.
My husband does not. He won't even look at it, even when I try to force it into his eyeline while he's reading -- he does not like that tactic.

As you can see from the picture, the old nail is slowly working itself off the toe while the new nail grows and replaces it. Thus, the old nail has become yellowish, flakey, and weak. I'm ready for it to be gone even if I'm left with a stubby nail, I'm sick of looking at it's grodiness.

Maybe I should just go in and get a pedicure this weekend and have them cover up the ickiness with pretty polish.

A Countdown

7 days until Thanksgiving -- I get to trot a 5K that is literally right out my front door; I love this race! I get to eat lots of delicious turkey! And we get to decorate for Christmas! I love the holiday season.

8 days until we leave for the Bahamas -- We leave next Friday for a short cruise to the Bahamas and back. My husband and I are celebrating our one year anniversary, so we're indulging in this mini-vacation. We are looking forward to the promised chance to relax.

19 school days left in the semester -- This term has left me worn out and bedraggled. I'm sick of looking at some of my students (especially the ones who wander in late with nothing -- not even a pencil -- with them).

30 days until we leave for MN -- We're going home to visit our family and friends and we're going to be gone for two whole weeks. It's gonna be busy because we have so many people to visit, but it's gonna be nice to see everyone. Most people we haven't seen for a year.

39 days until Christmas -- Speaks for itself. I hope Santa brings me either a Garmin Forerunner or a new Coach bag! (hint, hint, Santa)

52 days until the Disney Marathon -- Mickey, here I come!

My Disney Getaway

Booked my hotel for the marathon. I originally wanted a Disney hotel, primarily because they offer a shuttle to the race's start, but I waited too long and everything Disney is booked solid for the weekend. So I got a hotel as close to the action as possible; it looks nice.

The big race isn't too far away now -- eek!

Feeling Shy

So, I did not get up to run first thing this morning (I know, breaking news) so I thought to myself: I will bring running stuff and run in between classes this afternoon, shower in the gym's locker-room, and I won't have to run tonight after class.

But then I got a case of the "shy."

First of all, the women's locker-room at the community college where I teach is not what you'd call "nice." In fact, it's not even a cousin of nice. And what gives me a particular case of "shy" is that the showers don't have curtains or doors -- just wide-open stalls. Now, I know some of you probably played sports in high school and you might be one of those people who walked around the locker-room naked without a shred of self-doubt. Well, I too played sports, but was like a magician with a towel in order to shower and dress without the slightest glimpse of my naughty bits.

So, I could still run and then just be gross and sweaty for my night class, but I also have a case of "vanity," and while I may not be a beauty queen, I at least like to appear well-groomed for my classes. And I don't think a quick dash of deodorant or a splash of water on the face will help what will surely be sweat-monkey-Jess.

I guess that means I'll haul my running stuff back home and run tonight after I get done with class. *Sigh* It was a good idea in theory, but I don't think I'll follow through with it.

Failure

After my fall last night, I was feeling disappointed in myself. Much of this marathon training has not gone exactly as planned. I have been too hungover, too tired, too naseous, and too over-worked to complete every single mile listed on my schedule, and trust me, it pains me to know that I have missed those miles -- miles that, in my mind, mean a better marathon, a better experience.

When I began training, I took pride in checking off the runs on my schedule and felt that adhering to my schedule was the key to my success, so veering from it wasn't thought of; yet, as the days and weeks have worn on, I have re-arranged the schedule, skipped some runs, made up some runs, and have let some go by without making them up. So the fall last night and the incomplete 15 miler felt like another example of how I had deviated, and had even failed, from the list.

Then I thought about it, and you know what conclusion I came to?

Oh well.

The training thus far has not been perfect, and often times it has been worse than hard: it has been tedious. I have failed in more ways than I care to count, but somehow I feel that this is valuable. Even though I am running this marathon seeking a sense of accomplishment and personal success, I also must remain pragmatic: I will not always succeed and I will not always feel satisfied by this experience. It's my first marathon, and as I train, I find that I am constantly learning and adjusting (I've never run distances like this before, so each long run is a new experience -- experiences frought with the peril of failure), so that maybe for the next round of training, I will improve. I'm not trying to excuse my short-comings, I'm merely acknowledging that they exist, and that, to be honest, I regard them as an essential part of the process.

Too often, runners (and all others) become obsessed with goals, and failing to meet those goals can upset us, but what we (or, at least, I) have to realize is that failure sometimes teaches more than success does. I will try the long run again, maybe it will be better, but maybe it won't.

I suppose what matters most is the trying.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Tonight was not a good run.

First of all, I didn't really feel up to 15 miles, but I gave myself a mental talking to and decided that whether I felt like it or not, I needed to get it done -- that's what training for a marathon is about; it's hard and sometimes you don't want to do it, but you do it. So I started it.

At about mile 6.5, the sidewalk came to a stop and I was left to run in either the grass or on the road. Because the road is a busy one and there was no shoulder there, I thought it best to run in the grass -- which was really more sand, rocks and patchy crab grass than soft, plush golf-course grass. I'm not used to running on such uneven ground, and then an overhead streelight went out and I was momentarily plunged into darkness.

That's when I tripped over a sizable rock and went tumbling into the dirt. The fall wasn't as bad as the one last summer (when I skidded across the asphalt and splashed into a puddle), but I scraped my knees and palms and found myself covered in fine silt. I got back up and decided that even though my knee was throbbing and my big toe (which stubbed the rock) was aching a bit, I was gonna run on.

But after about a mile, and when the sidewalk resumed, I was feeling achy from the fall and mentally out-of-whack. So, at the next pay phone, I stopped and called my husband and asked him to come and fetch me. In total, I ran 8 miles. And I curse that patch of land without a sidewalk.

Gratutious Dog Pics

Scooter and I went to the dog park earlier today, and he found some friends to run with, and all that running can make a little dog hot, so he likes to play in the wadding pools to cool off. I think it's too cute how he splashes and plays in the water.

Even though I slept in today, I have been getting chores done -- took Scoots to the park, went to the grocery store, and now I'm cleaning this cursed condo. Of course, lurking there at the end of the day is my 15 miler that I really don't want to do. It's not so much the distance but the time; it's gonna take me nearly three hours to run that, and just thinking of it makes me groan. Can I do part today and part tomorrow? Can it work like that?

Saturday

I did do a short run last night even after I was tired from shopping. The Scooter dog and I went for a quick 2 miler. Today, I found myself back at the mall (so much x-mas shopping to do and yet so little to actually find at the mall) and I returned equally tired. So, I napped and now I think I'll go for a 3 mile run.

I had been thinking of adding a 5K to my schedule for today, but we have a gathering to attend this evening and the times would conflict. Every once in awhile I guess you have to choose time with friends instead of time at a race.

Shopping

Does shopping count as training? Because I walked liked a million miles in the mall today and I'm pooped (for part of that I was carrying a very heavy Crate & Barrel bag). Do I still have to run tonight?

The New Blogger

Okay, so most of you have probably already updated your use of Blogger and have gone to Blogger Beta, or whatever it's called. Yesterday, I figured, sure, why not switch it over, it sounds promising. And that's when my blog fell off the face of the world wide web. I freaked. But it turns out that Blogger really does have my best interests in mind, and sure enough, my blog re-appeared. If it had been gone, I think I would have seriously called in sick for work today; I would have been sick at heart if I lost my blog -- I have been posting to this postage stamp piece of cyber-real estate for nearly a year and half and I am quite invested in it.

Anyhoo, in other news, I cut last night's run short: from 7 miles to 3 (I was still pretty stiff and, you know, wasn't feelin' it) -- and this after several of you labeled me "consistent." Thankfully, I have the day off tomorrow (Veteran's Day Observance), so I will have time for a longer run then. Today, I am resting and, well, teaching my little hiny off.

P.S. Interestingly enough, Blooger's suggestions for labels on this post are: scooters, vacation, and fall. WTF?

Lost

No, not my favorite primetime show (which won't air now until February -- damn that ABC!); instead:

"Oh Sweet Jesus, I thought I lost my blog!" I logged into some "new" blogger service and *poof* my blog was gone. Thank the lord, I back-tracked out of that and was able to retrieve this precious little piece of cyber-space.

It was an unholy nightmare!

Stiff-Legged

My 5 miles yesterday was like running with tree trunks for legs. I didn't think I was still stiff from Sunday's 13, but apparently I was. After the first mile, I loosened up and it wasn't so bad, but I felt like Frankenstein's monster lurching through that first mile.

This morning I was studying my schedule and realized I had been looking ahead of where I actually am, and I didn't have to do 5 yesterday, it was supposed to be 3. The good news is that I only have 7 tonight instead of 8; somehow that one mile makes a difference. I'm sore again this morning and my toe next to the big toe (I don't know its technical term -- second in command? index toe?) is sore around the nail. I hope I don't develop another black toenail.

I'll try to drink plenty of fluids and do some stretching today so I can feel more comfortable during my evening run tonight: You can't go too fast running like C3PO.

Lance's Time

This morning a co-worker asked me: Do you know what time Lance Armstrong finished the New York marathon on Sunday? I promptly responded: 2:59:36. Impressed, the co-worker and I went on to discuss aspects of Lance and his marathoning.

Apparently, I am viewed now as the departmental expert on running and marathoning (only because so few others run -- I know of only one other and she's out of commission for now, she's the one who fell off the treadmill), so other instructors feel compelled to ask me marathon or running questions, and my prompt reply this morning made me feel like a real runner. Funny, because it seems as though my own running should make me feel like a real runner, but instead, it's the knowledge of the sport and current running events that somehow re-affirm my part in it.

BTW, I'm sure you running bloggers already read what Lance said about the marathon, but I feel it bears repeating: "It's the hardest thing I've ever done," says 7 time Tour de France winner. Certainly does make completing a marathon sound more elite, doesn't it?

Ouch

Yeah, I'm sore today. Not as sore as I thought I'd be, but I'm still pretty stiff. Last night, I stretched and drank plenty of water, but I knew that today my legs were gonna feel it. It's mainly my quads that hurt, especially when I sit down (that squating move you do to sit into a chair -- ow!).

Today I'll rest and tomorrow I get right back into it with 5 miles. Looking at my schedule for the next few weeks is a bit intimidating: this is where the running gets serious (I guess that's why it's marathon training), and my scheduled long run for the weekend? 15 miles.

Triumph!

I did the 13! That's a half marathon, baby, YEAH!

Some notes on the journey:

• It rained on me between miles 2 and 3, and even though it was a brief rain, I got soaked. Thankfully, the shorts I was wearing dried out easily and the rain was nice and cool, so I didn't really mind.
• I did not wear my fuel belt; instead, I brought along a few dollars in my tiny shorts pocket and bought some water from a gas station. It was easier than dealing with that darn fuel belt (I have delayed getting used to it).
• I walked some while I drank my water; and later in the last mile, I walked a little bit as well; otherwise, it was all running.
• The last three miles were long. 13 miles is far.
• Lastly, I think I've unlocked the secret to my nausea: I believe Gatorade to be the culprit. Every time I drink Gatorade before or after a long run, I throw up, but when I stick to water and then have a big glass of OJ when I get home, I seem to be fine. I suppose I should experiment with some other kind of replacement drink, but I'm reluctant to re-enter the world of post-run-barfing.
• I'm gonna be sore tomorrow.

Ho Hum

Not much to report. Had a relaxing day today: read, went to see "Borat," stopped by see my friend's new baby (I saw him yesterday too after I went and voted early -- he's pretty cute for a newborn; generally, I think they look like aliens, but he's not so alienish), and then I ran 5 miles. Tomorrow, I'm gonna aim for the big 13. Eek!

I am also thinking of adding two new races to my schedule between now and Christmas (a half marathon in Dec and a 5K next weekend); I'll investigate those tomorrow as well. Lastly, I should hop to it and reserve a hotel for Disney. Maybe I'll have more interesting things to report tomorrow. For today, I am lazy.

The '07 Race Debate

Even though I haven't yet finished my first marathon (Disney, January '07), I'm already thinking about what to race in the coming 18 months (I have a tentative goal called "3 before 30" to run 3 marathons before I turn 30 in April of '08; Disney will be #1). It's hard to decide because there's so much out there to run.

Here are a couple of possibilties:

Grandma's Marathon in June '07 and then the ING Miami Marathon in January '08.

Fargo Marathon May '07 and then Marathon of the Palm Beaches in Dec '07.

Twin Cities Marathon in October '07 and then A1A Marathon in Ft. Lauderdale in Feb '08.

You'll note the location trend: I'd like to be able to schedule a marathon close to family so they could come and see me and we'd be able to fit a visit in then, and both my husband's and (most of) my's family are in MN. And it would be nice to do a winter marathon back here in FL (because, well, the weather is glorious that time of year).

But after hearing everyone's stories of Chicago, that makes Chicago (Oct '07) a contender, or there's also Marine Corps (also Oct) in DC (where my dad lives, and I always love visiting DC -- one of my fav cities). Now, I know that there are many years to run many marathons, but it almost feels overwhelming (like being in the bookstore and craving the need to read every single book in there).

So, what do you guys think? How should I schedule the '07-'08 marathon season?

All Saints Day

In honor of Saint Something (I'm not Catholic and have no clue what saint covers the need for a day off, but I'm sure there's one out there), I took a personal day today and I stayed home to get papers read and to get some things done around the house. It was glorious to be home all day and I got tons done (amazing how NOT being at work better enables you to get work done). My goal this week? To not have any papers to read over the weekend. If I get what needs to be done, done tomorrow, that may be feasible. I have a dream of seeing a movie in the theater and going to see my friend's new baby, oh, and running the dreaded 13 miles.

Tonight I went running after dark and went 7 miles. It went well, I felt terrific, had a good post-run dinner provided via the hubby, and I feel confident that 13 miles will be do-able this weekend. It's the number that feels unholy.

Tuesday's Run with Scooter

Scooter's thoughts while on the run this morning:
"I love running, running is fun, I love running. Oh! A stick! I will carry the stick, carry the stick, I love my stick. Do I have to poop? I don't know, I kinda do, but I don't want to stop, wait, I do have to poop. First, I need to sniff every blade of grass and ensure that where I poop is the Perfect spot. Hmmm...maybe I don't need to poop. Squirrel! Run, run, run. I love running. Wait. I definitely have to poop. Grunt. Oh! Another stick! I love sticks! I wonder if Mom will allow me to bring it inside?"

Jess's thoughts while on the run this morning:
"Jesus, Scooter you're gonna yank my arm off. Yes, that's a very nice stick, I'm glad you like it but running with it is gonna be hard. Yeah, that's what I thought -- abandonment of the stick. Geez, if you're gonna poop, just poop! Let's not waste our time sniffing around for so long, any spot will do! Ah Christ, a squirrel, here goes my arm again. Okay, finally, a poop -- it's about time. Yes, that's fine, another stick. Yes, I don't care if you bring it inside. I know it'll be a mess to clean up later, but better to chew on a stick than my furniture. Good lord, running with this dog is a chore."

Fall: Back

With the time change, by the time I got home at 6 pm, it was dark. It kinda sucks this time of year because with Daylight Savings, the days feel shorter and darker (but I know it's not as severe here in FL as it is for those in the northern states). So, when I got home, I quickly changed into my running clothes and hit the pavement. Logged four miles today and they felt really good. It felt like it was late when I got home, but it was only supper time. Now I feel like I should be in bed, but it's only 8! I'm all thrown off.

Halloween '06

So, our party was a success! And I think the pictures tell the best story, so I'll let them do most of the work here.

We have here to the left my husband dressed as Nacho Libre -- he worked very hard to make every bit of this costume (he even made his own boots and sewed the tasles onto his cape!). Scooter is posing with him and being a good little sidekick.

Below, are a cowgirl (that's right, Meg, I posted a pic with you while you're eating -- nothing is sacred on this blog), a naughty policewoman (we saw her abuse her power with the baton she wielded), and a bar wench.


My costume ended up being a last minute affair. Originally I was going to be an evil fairy, but I waited too long to buy some key elements, and was shorted that costume, so after rumaging through Target's five costumes they had remaining, I came up with a 1920's flapper. Unfortunately, the costume was missing some accesories, but that's what you get for $10. Thankfully, I already owned a pair of red heels (the reds don't toally match, but whatever).

You'll note that our condo is still under renovations, thus the cement floor and white walls, and as much as it sucks living in an unfinished residence, it's the perfect place for a party; we don't have to worry if someone spills and the white walls actually made for a good backdrop for many pictures.

Below, is the coup d'etat. My husband, once again as Nacho Libre, and Ryan as the wrestler Ric Flair. Now, Ryan's costume was the spectacle of the party: He had entry music and everything. His costume, like my husband's, is also all homemade, which is really impressive if you could've seen the detailing on the belt and the shoes. He was so dedicated to his character that he even shaved his chest, back and, yes, armpits! His character made us laugh all night. And I have some pics without the robe that I will hold onto until a time when I may need bribe material.


Thankfully, I feel fine today and was even up at 7:15 (with the time change) and I cleaned up the house and threw away all the trash (about three cases worth of beer cans, some of which had been artfully placed in my drier). I am so much better off this Sunday than I was last Sunday. Now, can I say the same for others? Nacho is still sleeping, and I bet Ric Flair is feeling under the weather, and something tells me that a certain cowgirl may not be feeling so hot either.

It was a good time, a very good time.

Disappointed

Intended length of run: 12-13 miles

Actual distance this morning: 6 miles.

I could blame the rain, the wind, the fact that the fuel belt annoyed the crap out of me, or the fact that I was tired this morning, but really, my head, my heart, my body just weren't into it this morning.

What a crappy run.

Fuelin' Up

I got my fuel belt today. Tomorrow is the week's long run: We'll see how that belt works out. I also got a new sports bra, new shorts, and another pair of socks! The running store was a success!

In other news, my halloween party is tomorrow and my costume is MIA. I spotted what I wanted in a store about a month ago and should've just bought it then because time seems to just vanish from underneath me, and here I am tonight wandering through the mall and there's nothing. I might have to resort to a halloween get-up of yore.

We'll see. It will have to be a surprise I guess.

Notes

• I had TOO much coffee today and now I have the poops. My bum burns.
• The weather continues to be lovely here and last night I had a glorious 6 mile run in the early evening. But I did have to flip a guy, who tried to run me down in an intersection, the bird.
• Yesterday, I received race info from Disney! It was very exciting! I was like a thirteen year old boy with a copy of Hustler in my hands. I have the form that I have to turn in at the expo to get my bib number (am a little frightened I will somehow lose it), and I got a glossy little magazine full of key info for the race and the race weekend. I poured over everything and was thrilled to trace the course map -- it's gonna be awesome: I get to run through the Magic Kingdom, the Animal Park, Epcot and lots of FL swampland. Next week, I believe I will book our hotel -- am considering staying at one of the Disney resort hotels; they are more expensive, but it's all part of the experience (plus, they offer free shuttles to everything and that might be useful).
• I am getting excited for my Halloween party on Saturday (haven't yet finished putting my costume together, but I think it will turn out well -- my husband is going to be Nacho Libre, and with his permission I will post his photo here, I'll have to ask for that permission once he's had some beers, and you will die of laughter; it's a great costume), but because it's on Saturday night, I'm planning my long run for Saturday morning so I can avoid the sort of problem I ran into last weekend.
• That's my news for now -- short and to the point.

Hump Day

Oh coffee, how do I love thee? I love thee to the depth, breath, height my adrenline can reach!

Seriously, if it weren't for coffee, I'd still be in bed today. Hump day does not feel so humperific so far.

Brrrrr...

This morning it was chilly outside. When I got up with Scooter at 6:30, it felt like winter! In reality, it was like 50 degrees, but considering that it was 90 yesterday, the temp drop felt extreme. After Scooter went about his affairs, we ran back inside and snuggled in the warm covers for another hour, and then got up.

I took Scooter with me for my morning run and he made it the entire three miles! (It actually felt cold on my ears as we ran!) He was gung-ho in the first mile, dragged through the second, and then got a renewed burst of energy in the third (once he knows we've made the final turn for home, he is always excited). The little fella was tired though when we got home, and for moment I thought he might "pull a Jess" and barf (he had that look about him), but he didn't. Instead, he crashed out on the bed and that's where I left him.

Last night I ran 3 miles as well (sans dog), so my good runner status is rising. I just have to keep the momentum going.

Post-Hangover

So yesterday was painful.

I ended up sleeping almost the entire day, and did not technically get out of bed until about 4 pm. At that time, I got up and managed to make some use of the day by cleaning the house, doing the laundry and helping with dinner, but by 7, I was exhausted again and was back in bed. (I do recall at the gathering that I boasted I had not been sick from drinking since my bachelorette party -- a year ago -- so the lesson? Never make a declaration like that while guzzling down two bottles of red wine.)

The most disappointing thing about yesterday's illness was that I missed my run; I was so dehydrated and sick that I didn't feel up to any kind of physical exertion. So last week tops the training so far for bad runner status, and that means that this week I have to get my shit together and stick to this week's schedule.

On a side note, I am struggling through a PowerBar that is absolutely disgusting. I keep trying to nibble at it, but I think I'm going to pitch it -- yuck!

Too Much Wine

Ugghhh...

It's 1:48 in the afternoon and I don't yet feel normal. Drinking is bad kids, m'kay?

New Camera!

Today I got a new digital camera (I had previously reported that the old one was dying a slow death -- you'll recall that I requested money from the lot of you, but I'm sorry to report that not a single one of you pitched in; I suppose I can forgive), and it's friggin' sweet! It's a Sony Cybershot with 7.2 megapixels and that means I can snap pictures of Scooter with even greater clarity!
Well, it's for other purposes as well, but I do like to take pictures of my dog (such as the one to the left).

So, now when my husband tags along with me to races, he can capture awesome action shots of me and he can rest assured that the camera will actually A.) turn on, and B.) take a quality picture. I was disappointed to discover that digital cameras aren't yet putting out a product that improves the way you look, but I guess that's what Photoshop is for.

Stay glued to your seats -- totally tubular pics will be streaming your way over the next few days! I'll try to get some quality ones tonight at my friend's "wine and cheese" party. (Is it a wise idea to consume mass quantities of Shiraz and Gouda the day before a long run? No. Does it promise to be both a fabulous time and an excellent picture taking opportunity? Yes!)

P.S. Good luck to the RBFers running in Chicago tomorrow! I'll be thinking of you!

End of the Week

Tonight, I went for a run with the Scoots. He's building his endurance and can go further and further each time; although, when we're done, he's pretty pooped (kinda the point -- a tired dog is a well-behaved dog). Currently, he is crashed on the bed.

Tomorrow I am going to try and make up that missed run from earlier this week -- six miles, and then I have the daunting number 12 on Sunday. Two things I need to do before that big run:

1. Map out a route. Planning these long runs gets trickier each time. I feel like I'm running the entire length of South Florida sometimes. In fact, 12 miles might be the distance from my house to work...hmmm...that might make it interesting; of course, once I got there, I'd have to arrange for the hubby to pick me up and he might not be up for that (he's very busy at work these days).
2. Get a fuel belt. I know, I know, I am WAY late getting one of these, but I actually saw some for the first time when I was at that 15K last weekend, and I can see how slim they are and it looks like it wouldn't be that much more to carry. Plus, I have a $10 coupon for the running store -- awesome!

Wednesday

I did not get up this morning to run. I thought I might be better motivated to get up early since my husband had to get up early and go into a work early, but even though I got up with him and walked Scooter, I came back inside and went back to bed (and had a strange dream about making cupcakes, which was made even stranger by the fact that a fellow instructor really had made cupcakes and brought them in to share -- spooky).

So, I was able to be a good runner for about a week and a half; that's all I am really capable of. I'm sure that I'll make up the run scheduled for today -- even when I don't get it done first thing in the monring, I find a way to fit it in later in the day or in the week. Still, being "good" and staying on track, and especially getting a run in before work, makes me feel so virtuous. I should know by now that neither my body nor my mind are saintly.

Anyhoo, I consider it a feat to have gotten out of bed at all today (so very sleepy), so I'm not beating myself up about it too much.

Smartie Overload

As I was laying in bed enjoying a classic re-run of "Friends" (the one where Joey and Chandler have "free porn!"), I asked my husband to fetch me a Smarties from the cauldron of candy. One. I asked for one. (I'm trying to be good.) What does he bring back? Five. (Perhaps, he didn't appreciate the "fetch" comment.)

Now, I know that this was a moment meant to test my will power: The challenge? To only eat one when I had five sitting on my lap. Now, here are the Smartie stats: per roll (15 tablets), there are 25 calories, not terrible, but each roll contains *gasp* 6 grams of sugar. So, five rolls meant 125 calories (not real worrisome) and 35 grams of sugar -- that's a lot for such small packages.

So, I considered this...for about 30 seconds. Then I ate all five of them, and you know what? They were delicious. I love Smarties, and have since I was a kid (and once vowed to eat them until I puked -- I never puked, I just got too full to consume anymore), and I won't apologize. But I don't believe those trick-or-treaters will get their grubby little hands on any of MY Smarties! Not at this rate.

A Case of the Mondays

I could've slept all day today, and I went to bed at 9:30 last night! Can someone else please drive to work today and teach my classes for me? I'll stay at home and take advantage of my "rest" day, ahhhh.

Sunday's 15K

My morning began at 4 am when the alarm went off, and my first reaction? "I don't want to go!" But go, I did. I got up, ate my cereal, had a cup of coffee, and was out the door by 4:45. The run had a 6 am start time -- because some people were running the 30K, it was planned, I assume, that those runners would need the extra time in the dark, cool morning air.

Despite having to get up so early, I too was appreciative of the early start. It was cool and breezy, and I was able to finish the majority of the run before the sun had risen, and that made the run far more pleasant.

So, we ran along A1A ("beachfront avenue!") in the pre-dawn hours, each of us wearing a glowing braclet (mine really bugged me -- it kept bouncing up and down my arm, but I did want passing motorists to spot me and not plow me down, so I grudgingly wore it, but once the sun was up, I chucked it into the grass). A1A runs alongside the coast, but for the most part, our view of the ocean was blocked by beachfront hotels; however, further north on the run, the hotels stopped and it was a perfect view of the Atlantic. So around mile 6, I got to see the sun rise over the ocean, and that made my morning.

The last two miles were hard on me -- the last few of a long run always feel like the longest to me -- and while I wasn't wearing a watch, those two miles were the slowest, I'm sure. In the end, I finished in 103 minutes (which means I averaged 11 minute miles), which is pretty slow, but I wasn't trying to be speedy, I just wanted to finish. After I finished, I grabbed a water and a snack and sat on a bench overlooking the ocean: It was a gorgeous morning.

And the best news to report: no puking -- in fact, I didn't even feel naseous. I came home, showered, took a two hour nap, and just had a big lunch. I would like to spend the rest of the day doing nothing, but, alas, there are papers to grade and laundry to do.

The Thursday Report

Last night, I kept up my "good runner" status by running my prescripted 5 miles (and actually went closer to 5.5), and this morning I continued with the good behavior by running before work. I was also a very good "dog mom" and took Scooter with me.

He was a bundle of energy this morning, and greeted me in bed with a squeeky toy, so after I dressed in my running clothes, I leashed him up and we were outta there. Once again, the beginning of the run with him was a bit chaotic -- he was jumping and twirling and getting caught in his leash (at one point in wrapped around his stomach and up over his head) -- but after the first quarter mile, he settled down and trotted along at a normal pace.

He was able to go a little further than he was the last time, so we ran a total of about 2.25 miles and then walked the last stretch to complete 3 miles. Twice we had to sprint: once because he spotted a squirrel and once because there was someone on a golf cart to chase, and once he jumped about two feet in the air when he bounced onto a stick that surprised him (he's a little neurotic). Overall, it was a fun run once again: maybe we'll go again tomorrow morning. I have either cross training or a short run on the schedule, so perhaps he would enjoy another morning run.

Cooler Temps

In the last few days, the weather has cooled off considerably, and when I went for my run this morning, I didn't get started until 8, and it was still gloriously cool outside (previously, the reason why I had to get up at 6 was not because of work, but because if I waited until the sun had arisen, it would be 90 degrees outside). With temps in the 70s this morning and an overcast sky, the run was pleasant.

And I heard on the radio on my way into school this morning that tonight, we're supposed to have lows in the 60s, which is extremely lovely weather. We may get to turn off the air conditioner!

Monday Stats

Percentage of effort toward being a good runner this week: 100% (granted, it's a rest day, but so far I am being good at resting).

Number of mini-candy bars consumed so far: 0 (that's right, I'm holding strong).

Hours left in the day: 13 (that's a lot of time in which I could be munchin' on candy).

Sunday Seven

I was finally a good little runner today: I just got back from my week's long run, 7 miles. It was a little tough, especially the last mile, but that's what I get for taking three days off this week. The good news is that I feel fine and I don't see a forecast of barf, so that's encouraging.

This coming week I resolve to be a more disciplined runner and stick to my training schedule. I'm trying to be good.

Bad Runner

A running blog can begin to feel a bit like going to confession: You are forced to give honest reports about your running, and this is probably why most of have a running blog -- in order to keep ourselves in line. Of course, when we fall out of line, it can be hard to fess up.

So here it is: This week, I have been a bad runner. I did not run on Thursday or Friday and I have six miles to make up because of that. Tomorrow is my long run, and I won't skip that, but I'm trying to decide whether or not I should make up my miles today -- all of them, some of them -- or none of them. I know that in the course of training, I will miss some runs and will not follow my schedule exactly, but I feel as though I should get the miles in; however, is it a good idea to do that the day before a long run?

I have the course of the day to consider. Meanwhile, I'm facing a literal cauldren of Halloween candy (we estimate it takes about 10 lbs of candy to fill it and at the rate I'm working on it, I'm not sure if any will be left for the kids at Halloween). But I was good this morning: cereal instead of Snickers for breakfast.

Nutshell

The highlights and low-lights (in bullet form):

• Bought a new bed last night: It rocks. It's a sleigh bed, so I guess technically, it "slays"! Ha! It will be delivered on Saturday, which means I have to clean under the old bed -- am a little frightened of what lurks under there.
• Ran last night after season premiere of "Lost" -- both the run and the show were awesome; it was another late run though and I am a little leary of running through the night with who knows what slouching in the shadows -- the fear keeps me fast.
• It was eleven before I got showered and bedded after the run last night, so do you think I felt like getting up at 6? Heck no! I need 9 hours of sleep people! So, yeah, I'm facing another night run tonight.
• The instructor that I have been filling in for (who fell off a treadmill and broke her ankle) will not be completely healed and able to return to teaching for at least two more weeks -- maybe three -- so that means I will continue with her classes. It's only the thought that I am raking in extra cash that keeps me sane; otherwise, the added work is pushing me toward the cliffs of insanity.
• Last note: I think the invention of mini-candy bars is the single greatest scientific accomplishment of all time: They taste delicious and because they are so small, they have no calories, so I can have as many as I want (tell me otherwise -- I dare you).

Dog Run

Last night when I got home from class, I still wanted to fit my run in, so as I laced up my shoes and Scooter was bounding around my feet, I asked my husband: "Should I take Scooter with me?" Scooter hasn't been on a run in months when I tried it once before without much success, but I decided to give it another go, so I put him on his leash and we were out the door.
He was so excited at first that he ran in circles and ran into the back of my legs twice, nearly knocking me over. But after the first two blocks, he settled into a comfortable trot. Scooter is not conditioned to run long distances -- he can go for short bursts at the dog park, but otherwise, he doesn't do a lot of running -- so after 1 mile, he was looking pooped. I turned around and headed back to the house, and once he knew we were going home, he kicked it into high gear.

We sprinted almost the whole second mile (had to stop for him to poop -- I can sympathsize, running can inspire the bowels -- and once a leaf blew across our path and scared the bejesus out of him, and twice he came to a dead stop to sniff something and I had to hurdle over him); it was the fastest two miles I've done in a long time and probably some of the funnest two miles I've run in awhile.

Watching Scooter run is so funny because he has a look of pure joy on his face when he's running. It made me feel refreshed about running, and I felt the same sort of joy as we jogged back to the house. Sure, I went a mile shorter than I orginally wanted to fit in, but it was fun going with my Scoot-Scoots; maybe we'll go again together soon.

A Tuesday That Feels Like Monday

Turns out the pukiness continued into the afternoon of my day off yesterday, so perhaps I wasn't ill Sunday night from running, maybe I had a virus. I spent most of the afternoon yesterday laying in bed watching Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies" countdown (to spoil it for you, they named "Animal House" the funniest movie), and if you're wondering how long a program like that runs, I can tell you that it was four hours long.

Needless to say, I did not get nearly the things done that I wanted to, but at least it was a planned day off of running and class, so I don't feel too guilty -- yet, it sucks to waste a day off with being sick. Today I feel fine -- so far -- and it's back to the grindstone. I am literally neck-deep in papers to grade, and while I usually pride myself in returning things to students in a timely manner, this week is going to have to be an exception; there's just no way I can finish the work I have before me in the time they expect it to be finished (sometimes I have to remind them that they got two weeks to write one paper, I should get a little leeway in reading 25 of them; that usually squelches the voices of dissent).

Anyway, I have a planned 3 miler for later this evening (I was just kidding myself thinking I'd get up early this morning to get it done: I may never turn into a morning person). The good news is that it has cooled off a little here and I've felt the humidity drop some, so the run tonight should be pleasant.

Shalom!

Yeah, I did not feel well after my run last night. I puked just the one time, but I was naseous and worn out for the remainder of the evening. I ended up going to bed early.

Thankfully, I feel fine this morning, and the bonus is that I got to sleep in today and I have the day off (it's Yom Kippur, so classes are closed today for "Fall Holiday"). Of course, I need to spend most of the day catching up on some papers, but it's nice to do it at home. I might go get my hair trimmed later -- it's starting to look mullet-esque now that the layers are growing out: I think I need a cut to even out the length. We'll see if I feel like it later on.

No run today, but I might do some yoga. I don't feel sore, but it would be a good day to focus on stretching.

Sunday Long Run

The good news: Made not only my 10 miles, but actually managed to complete 10.5.

The bad news: Came home, took a shower, and barfed. I think the piece of pizza this afternoon was a mistake -- too much fat and grease. Still, it had several hours to digest before I left. This puking thing is problematic.

Silly stomach.

Scheduling

As I come to a close on my first five weeks of training, I have decided to make a few adjustments to my schedule. The first priority? Change my long run for a different day. Currently, I have scheduled long runs on Saturdays, but that has become impractical. For one thing, I can not, and will not, get up early on a Saturday. I look forward all week to sleeping in on Saturday morning, and I don't think I can break myself of a habit I have spent 28 years forming. Secondly, Saturday night is out. (Remember, this is FL, so it's still hot here and running in the middle of the morning or afternoon is not an option. It literally pains me to read your running blogs about running in the mid-morning in 60 degree weather: It might be 60 degrees here on race day, in January.)

Yes, I have stayed home and devoted myself to running on some Saturday nights, but it's hard, and I shouldn't have to make the choice between a social life and a running life. So, I think I'm going to move my long run to Sundays: This means I'll have to move some runs around during the week to adjust, but I think it will work out better that way.

So, tomorrow will be 10 miles -- eek! I'm pretty confident because that's only slightly farther than the distance I ran last week, yet it's such a round, solid number: It's double digits for Christ's sake! So I'm a little nervous thinking about it. Plus, I still need to hammer out a hydration plan for the run (thanks for the suggestions last week, it gave me lots to consider, but that doesn't mean I came to a decision). I'll let you know how it goes (and whether or not I make my husband drive to a halfway point and meet me with water -- it's a possibility, I can be demanding like that).

TGIF

A day of rest. Thank you, little baby Jesus.

Issues...

Okay, so I guess it did publish. Ugh.

I do NOT heart Blogger

Blogger is a little bitch. It won't publish my post from earlier today. In short, my run on Wednesday evening went fine. Went running early on Thursday morning before long day; that went well also. In short, I am an awesomely dedicated runner.

AM Run

I did it! Got up early and ran! It was that or wait again until 10 pm, and the only real problem with waiting until then is finding the motivation. At the end of a long day, the last thing I want to do is go for a run even if it does help me unwind from the day (of course, the second to last thing I want to do is get up early and run before a long day -- even if it helps wake me up and prepare for that day).

Now, if only I could grade papers and run at the same time: Think of how much I'd get accomplished! Clearly, it is time to hire the trained monkeys; I need a little help getting everything I need to do, done. I figure a little ensemble of chimps would do the work just fine -- I may need more bananas though...

Night Runner

Yesterday, my body refused to get up at 6 am; I tried to make it, honest I did, but it revoked my authority. Then, school was busy all the livelong day -- hardly had time to eat, let alone fit a run in -- so when I got home at 10, I was determined to not let the run pass me by. I laced up my shoes and slipped on my running gear, and I was out the door by 10:15.

Thankfully, I just needed to get three miles in, and running at that time is certainly cooler, but I had to take a different route so I could stick to the well-lit, high-traffic streets. In the end, the night run was nice; it let me relax and unwind from the long day, and I'm glad I got it done.

Tonight I will need to repeat the performance -- I will get home much closer to 6, than 10, but I will still need to wait for the sun to set before heading out (it's still summer here, folks). Maybe tomorrow I will manage to actually get up when the alarm goes off, but don't hold your breath.

Noontime Run

Even when I'm not scheduled to run, I sometimes find myself in situations that demand I hop to it.

Today, I was in my noon class -- on the fourth floor of the library -- and as I was handing out their quizzes, I realized I was two copies short. I have never under-copied before, but even super-hereos make mistakes, so I assured them they could sit still and I would be back in a jiffy, quizzes in hand.

The original copy of the quiz was back in my office, in another building. I knew right away my shoes would be an issue, so I slipped them off and, shoes in hand, went sprinting in my bare feet. Down the four flights of stairs, across campus, into my office, I quick made two copies and then jogged back across campus and up the four flights of stairs. Keep in mind, this is Florida, it was 1:00 in the afternoon; currently, it is 90 degrees outside. So, I burst back through the classroom door (shoes still in hand), sweating and a little out of breath from the stairs, and handed them their quizzes (they had generously offered not to take the quiz, but I didn't want to inconvienence them).

They finished, turned them in, and had plenty of time, but I was sweating and flushed from the unexpected exertion (nothing like having sweat roll down your back in a dress shirt). I guess the lesson learned is that I need to quadruple check my copies before heading to class so I don't have to run a 100 yard dash in the middle of the day. I'm just glad I didn't bump into another professor mid-run.

Niner

First of all, I postponed the 9 miler for Sunday; I opted for dinner out with the hubby and some friends on Saturday night, so I ran my scheduled 9 miles tonight. It went well; here are a few notes:

1. I got friggin' thirsty. During the last 2 miles, my mouth felt like I had licked a wookie, and when I got home, I drank two bottles of water right away because I was so parched. How does everyone else deal with this? Carry a bottle of something to drink? Plant them along the route ahead of time? Have someone meet you part way with refreshment? I need to figure something out because I can't do 10 miles next week without a hydration plan.

2. I felt good for the majority of the run, but the last mile was a bit rough. My legs were getting stiff and tired. One good thing in my planning was that I actually plotted a route that was 9.2 miles, so I ran the 9, and then walked that last .2 and I think that helped me cool down a little better; still, it was hard on my legs.

3. Around mile 5, I ran through a little pocket of cool air -- an unique phenonmenon in FL -- it felt like a little piece of heaven.

4. I can now see how so many people say they enjoy training more than the marathon itself. I felt great finishing the 9 miles, a distance I'd never done before, and to think that every week I will face challenges like this, and that every week will be a new accomplishment. It's true that it's all in preparation for the ultimate goal, the marathon, but think of how many small accomplishments I will have along the way! That's very satisfying.

Lastly, I had a bowl of Kashi cereal (lots of good carbs, high in protein) with skim milk and some raspberries for a recovery meal, and I'm crossing my fingers it settles appropriately. I have to find a way around the barfing that has plagued me post-long-run in the past. Right now, I feel great.

Refreshed

Yesterday afternoon I had the house to myself (it was just Scooter and I) and I relaxed, napped, and watched some TV. Then, in the evening I went for the 3 miler I missed on Thursday, and the run went really well and felt good.

Now, after a long night of sleep, I feel much better. I still have lots of paper grading to get done today, but when I'm at home, I can work on it at a leisurely pace. Tonight I have a scheduled 9 miles. I've never run that far before: This is the point in my training schedule where I begin to march into unknown territory. I'll let you know how it goes.

Flexibility

I guess it's good for your muscles and joints, just as it is good for scheduling. I never made my run yesterday, so I will probably make it up this evening. Those who commented that I had that option are right to note that training schedules are meant to be flexible, and as long as I get the miles in, that's the most important thing.

Thankfully, I'm done with class on Fridays at 2, so I can go home, maybe nap, and go for a run this evening. I've never been so thankful to see a week come to its close (of course, most of the weekend needs to devote itself to reading papers, but at least I can do that at home). Have a good weekend everyone!

Okay, I Lied

I am not getting used to getting up early to run. Tuesday must've been a fluke. Yesterday, I couldn't get up early and ended up running when I got home from work, around 6:30 pm (the good thing was that it had just finished raining and I got to see a double rainbow). And this morning? Yeah, I could barely move this morning, let alone run.

I don't know where I'll fit it in today. It may end up a late night run. We'll see. I can't skip it: The guilt will eat me alive.

Thank god tomorrow is a day of rest. This week has been a busy one and I feel like I'm dragging myself to the end of it.

6:30 AM

Could I be getting used to getting up this early to run? Hard to believe, but I think I'm beginning to grow accustomed to it. Of course, the downside to this means that every afternoon around 3, I feel like I have the energy of a python who just swallowed a goat. I need to get a couch in my office, or at least a more comfy chair, so I can doze off for a bit in the late afternoon.

Taking the Stairs

Just when I think I'm in tip-top shape, I have to climb four flights of stairs. At the top, I'm huffing and puffing and my legs tingle from the unexpected rush of blood.

Marathon, schmarathon. I'm glad I'm not training for a twelve floor ascension: That would truly test my endurance.

Race Day

All that really needs to be reported is that Ryan won our wager. He needed to beat his own personal best time of 28:00 and he finished in just over 27 minutes. I needed to beat 29:52, and I was off by about 30 seconds, and I finished in 30:22. The timing of the course was a little weird because they started the clocks and then let the "over 40" crowd go, and then started the rest of us five minutes later. So, I'm not so sure about my exact time, but I am able to do enough math to know that I did not beat my own PR.

Oh well. I'm not really disappointed. It was fun to have friends to run with, and if I have to buy them breakfast afterward, so be it.

Correction to time: Results were posted online this afternoon, and my exact time was 30:27. I was five seconds off on my recall.

Five Mile Friday?

I have a dilema. Usually, I rest on Fridays and do my long run on Saturday, but because of the 5K on Sunday, I'm considering re-arranging my schedule. I'm supposed to run 5 miles tomorrow, but would like to spend tomorrow as a day of rest before I kick Ryan's ass in our race. But that means I should do my 5 scheduled miles tonight.

The question boils down to this: 5 miles tonight -- when I definitely feel ready for rest, or 5 miles tomorrow -- when it might be wiser to rest?

On the Track

This morning I did not get up with the alarm to go run (surprise, surprise). But, with a long day ahead of me, I wasn't sure when I would fit the run in, or where. Then, the clouds parted and an idea dawned down upon me.

I am a member of Bally's, but the gym where I'm a member is far from where I work, so it would not be sensible to drive all the way there and back in the middle of my afternoon (between classes). However, there is a Bally's right by the college. I gave them a quick call to see if I could get a one day pass to that particular gym (no trading back and forth -- they charge extra for that), and they said "yes" no charge!

So, at 3:30 I totted my running stuff over to that gym, and I have to say, it's much better than the one I attend. Plus, they have an indoor track, so I bypassed the treadmill and ran on the track. And while I still think track running is pretty boring, it's better than the treadmill; plus, the smooth, predictable path of the track gave me the best time on three miles that I've ever had: 27:30! It was an awesome run.

After I ran, I quickly showered up, picked up some food and headed back to school: I was back by 5:00. And I have to say, the run and the shower really refreshed me. I feel more invigorated for my night class than ever before. Perhaps I should switch my membership. Hmmm...something to consider.

Misconceptions

Does anyone else feel that when they run north that they are running up hill? Or, am I the only one?

(Funny side story: My younger brother's third grade teacher told his class that rivers don't flow north because water doesn't flow up hill. She must've been forgetting that one of the biggest rivers in the world, The Nile, flows north in to The Mediterranean. Silly. Do you think she really thought that? Or was she just fucking with their brains?)

Trudging through Tuesday

This morning's run was a test of my will. I passed.

Barely.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are busy days for me: I leave home at 9:30 am and return at about 9:30 pm. This leaves little time for running, except first thing in the morning. This morning, the alarm went off, my husband nudged me, and I merely grunted a response. "Are you gonna run?" he asked. I just rolled over. A half an hour later, I was still laying there, and I was experiencing some classic indecision. My brain tried to rationalize that if I skipped the morning run that perhaps I could lug my running stuff to campus and find some space before my evening class to run on campus and I could shower in the gym's locker room. My body knew differently. I knew that if I didn't get up and do the run first thing that it would never get done.

Slowly, I rolled out of bed, dressed, and hit the road. Usually, even if I'm tired, once I start running I wake up and feel refreshed. That was not the case this morning. My feet felt like lead, and my brain was fuzzy with sleep. I literally trudged through the three miles, and while I didn't have a watch, I know my time was terrible. But that's okay. This morning was just about getting it done. Which is what some days are like: Not every day can be a good running day, and sometimes merely accomplishing a distance (even a familiar distance) is all a runner can ask for.

I was thankful that I got up and did it. Getting up and running in the morning is just as daunting to me as the idea of running 26.2 miles, so knowing that I can do one helps me realize I might be able to do the other.

Treadmill Terror

A fellow instructor in my department fell off a treadmill and fractured her ankle. Now, I know that I bash treadmills a lot, but here's the perfect example of why they are evil. Evil. They will break your leg if given the opportunity.

Because she's immoblized and can't drive, stand, or walk on the injury for a month, I have volunteered to take over two of her classes. It has occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, I've taken on more than I can handle, since adding those two classes will mean that I'm currently teaching nine (9!) classes -- that means I'll teach approximately 225 students a week.

Crap.

Barfy Barferson

Last night when I returned from my 7 miler, I felt fine. I took a cool shower, had some water, some Gatorade, and then had what I thought was a sensible meal: a pita filled with veggies and some meat. I typed my blog and sat down to read for a bit.

Then my stomach started to churn. I went in the bedroom, turned the fan on, and laid down (my classic remedy for any ailment). My husband asked what was wrong. I told I felt like I was gonna ... I ran for the bathroom and puked up my recovery meal, my water, and my Gatorade. I hate puking, but once it was done, I felt fine. I drank a glass of milk (the acid in your throat after barfing is unbearable), ate two cookies my husband baked, settled in to bed and watched TV. And I was good to go.

This morning I feel fine once again. I'm not sore from the long run, and my stomach feels completely settled. Apparently, it was another strange after-run-barfing. It's the same thing that happened to me about six weeks ago after returning from a longer run. What's weird is that it's a delayed reaction if it's related to running, which I think it is (either to the heat or humidity or to the food or drink I consume afterward). I guess I'm going to need to be extra careful about what I choose for a recovery meal and drink. I'm thinking next time of having a bowl of cereal. That shouldn't be too threatening to the stomach.

Just Returned

From running my seven miles. The run went well; weather was good, music was rockin', and I felt good. Had lots of people yellin' and honkin' from cars though. I always ignore them. Turns out, one car of yellers were friends. I didn't even notice; I ignored them too.

Argghhh...

This morning after I got out of the shower, I was standing at the bathroom sink brushing my teeth and I could hear Scooter gnawing on something. Now, Scooter gnaws on a lot of things: His toys, pieces of bark and rock he brings in from outside, as well as things he's not supposed to gnaw on. Lately, he's been chewing remote controls, and last Saturday he demolished a flip flop (thankfully it was $2 pair from Target, but still).

Because of his recent chewing behavior, I put down my toothbrush, mouth still foamy from the toothpaste, and I went into the bedroom to investigate; there he was with one of my brand new running shoes in his wicked little jaws! These shoes are seven days old, seven days!

With toothpaste spilling down my chin, I yelled and tore the shoe away from him (he might have thought I had rabies). He hung his head in shame and he followed me into the closet where I put the shoes up on a higher shelf and he tried to give me the puppy eyes that melt my heart, but I would have none of it. He had to live with his guilt until I got home from class.

I am now able to love him again, and thankfully, he didn't manage to do too much damage (the frayed heel and some teeth marks on the tread are about the only evidence of his attack), but I was still mighty pissed. My shoes are not to be confused with chew toys!

Holy Humid Batman!

Even though it was only 79 degrees this morning when I headed out on my run, the humidity was at 89%! For the past week, the humidity has been hanging around the 90% mark and the air has been thick with moisture. We've been receiving an unusual amount of rain and while it cools the earth, it makes the outdoors feel like a giant terrarium. So, this morning, I was sweatin' like the devil on my run, and when I got home, I have to admit I felt a little naueous. I'm not sure if I was over-heating or if the sweat loss dehydrated me, or if I was just being a baby, but there were a few minutes when I got home where I sat down, gulped my water, and felt a little dizzy.

I took a cool shower and then laid down for a minute with the fan on and I felt better, but it sucked. Humidity is a reality of living in Florida (that's what you get for living in a swamp), but good lord, can't we get a little dry air this way?

Swallowed a Bug

He flew straight into the back of my throat. I gagged a bit. Such are the hazards of running, I suppose. Perhaps I should run with my mouth closed -- apparently, it's just hanging open.

Yee's Yoga

This is the yoga DVD I bought and did yesterday. It was pretty good. No time to rest -- you go through the poses without any breaks so it actually becomes challenging fifteen minutes into the 60 minute program, and I was sweating 30 minutes in. The poses themselves aren't difficult, but some are challenging and without any pauses between poses, it was a good workout. But one thing...
...I was completely distracted by, um, the bulge in Yee's very tight, nothing-left-to-the-imagination, shorts. And is he working out in only those shorts because he truly is that warm, or is he trying to show off? It is supposedly filmed on a Hawaiian hillside, so I can buy the idea that he's physically hot, but I gotta tell ya, I would've been pleased to see some baggy sweats and a t-shirt on the guy.

I could feel the workout's results this morning, and I was a little sore in my butt and thighs (but that means it's working!), so I was stiff when I started out on my jog at 6:30 (that's right, I got up early). The run went fine though and it was pleasant out. We've been getting rain for days now, and aside from the fact that the air outside is essentially a rain cloud it's so humid, the temp has dropped considerably, and it almost felt chilly when I first stepped outside. I quickly worked past that though and sweated up my usual amount.

Lazy Labor Day

"Labor Day" is a misnomer isn't it? We're not supposed to labor in honor of the idea of labor? I'm not entirely sure. This holiday is a bit of a mystery to me, but whatever its origins or meaning, all I know is that it's a three day weekend, and that is heavenly.

Yesterday, we went to a friend's pool party/BBQ, but it rained, so we mostly played ping-pong instead of swimming (although my husband did convince me to take a dip with him in the rain -- it still felt refreshing). And, well, I got a little drunk. Okay, quite drunk. Thankfully, Mondays are an easy going training day. On the schedule, I'm supposed to do "stretch and strength" so I usually do yoga, but no classes today because of the holiday, so I went to Target and got a new yoga DVD. I'll let you know if it's awesome or if it sucks; otherwise, if you hear nothing, it means it works but it's not stellar.

The Saturday Sixer

Went well. I did not get up early to run (you know me better than that), so I waited until late evening when it was cool again. I got sprinkled on, but it felt good and it wasn't a big deal. Overall, it felt like a great run, and my new shoes worked out perfectly. What more can be said?

New Shoes!

I bought new shoes! I should clarify that: It's the same shoe I currently own, but it's new! My old pair was beginning to fall apart, and the tread was really worn. I know that I shouldn't wear them until they get that way; in fact, I probably should've bought a new pair three months ago.

Anyhoo, there was a moment in the shoe store when I thought I wasn't going to be able to get any new shoes. My feet are so small that I always cause the shoe salespeople to panic a bit while looking for my size. They only carry a couple of pairs in my size, and the first two I tried on didn't work (I really liked the New Balance 1060s, but I needed half a size larger -- I know, larger, can you believe it?) and one of those pairs was a kid's shoe. But then the clerk spotted a box of my current Brooks on a top shelf, and we were both relieved.

It wouldn't have been the end of the world if I had to order a pair and wait a week, but I'm not so good with the waiting. When I find something I want to buy, I want it right now (which is why Internet shopping has never been that appealing to me). I also picked up two new pairs of socks, so I'm ready to rock! Too bad today's my day of rest. But now I can't wait to get out there and do my scheduled six miles tomorrow! (Wow! Never thought I'd utter those words.)

Change of Plans

I learned yesterday that my planned half marathon in October has been cancelled. Apparently, the race's big sponsor went under, and well, when a business goes out-of-business, they don't really want to fund a race. So, this throws a wrench in my plans, but thankfully, I'm a quick thinker, and I checked out other local races, and I believe I have found a solution.

There's a 15K on October 15th that I can run. Now, I may teach English, but I can do math, and I know that 15K is less than a half marathon, but it's the closest I think I can come within that time frame. And really, I just want the opportunity to run a longer race before the marathon in January to get a feel for it.

Plus, 15K sounds longer -- no one in America can calculate kilometers anyway (you Canadians, shush).

But, I've gotta find me some gum before my evening class; I have turd breath, which is weird since I had an antipasto salad, not a turd salad for dinner.

Ernesto, Cont'd

Turns out that Ernesto is no big deal (despite how he may think of himself). It remained a tropical storm, so the area got drenched in rain, but that's about it. The storm never really strengthened like predicted, so what we have here is just a very breezy thunder storm. But the good news is that I got the day off again today and so did my husband, so it's like a weekend in the middle of the week! Pretty frickin' cool.

Yesterday afternoon, I went out and did my 3 mile run. It was a little windy, and at first, it was drizzling on me, but the rain ebbed, and my run went fine. In fact, if it hadn't been for the overast skies and the wind, it would've been a helluva hot run because of the humidity. As it was, I was still sweatin' like a monkey.

I wonder if the gym will open back up this afternoon? Otherwise, I guess I can do my cross training at home.

Ernie, without the Bert

The threat of Ernesto has closed most of South Florida, so that means no work for me today -- picture me doing a little jig! Plus, it looks like Ernesto will now remain a tropical storm instead of turning into the predicted hurricane. Awesome: A day off and no real threat. Oops! I shouldn't have said that; I hope I didn't jinx us. Anyway, I'm hoping for a day off tomorrow as well (the storm is supposed to make landfall in the middle of the night), but a four day week before Labor Day is already like having your birthday the week before Christmas, so I shouldn't get too greedy with my wishes.

Ernesto and Other Notes

It's a little difficult to concentrate today since Ernesto is threatening to hit our area in the next few days. Right now, the storm is just a Tropical Storm, but forecasters are saying that it will most likely turn into a category 1 hurricane after is crosses Cuba, and then it is headed directly for South Florida (but there is always room for uncertainty and it could wobble any which way within the projected "cone"). People are scrambling to get supplies in order here and I'm waiting for the word on whether classes will be cancelled tomorrow or not; we'll wait and see. Cross your fingers for us!

In other non-storm related news, last night I had great 5 miler. It was humid, but there was a slight breeze, so it wasn't unbearable; plus, I had some new tunes, curtesy of a friend, and that made the run go by quickly. When I got home, my husband and I enjoyed some "big salads" for dinner and I had some Gatorade -- perfect recovery meal. This morning, I did some yoga and ab work. I think I need some new yoga videos to help mix things up, does anyone have any suggestions?

That's about it for today. I'll keep you bloggers updated about the storm as soon as I know more (and if we continue to have power)!

The Weight of the Matter

So, I want to lose 3 pounds. Sounds feasible, right? I want to lose 3 pounds in 3 weeks. Also possible. But it probably means fewer grill cheese sandwiches. Dammit.

My weight has always fluctuated since high school, and at my tubbiest, I was 125 lbs (for being Smurf height, that's at the high end of my BMI range). Once several years ago after a depressing break up with a boyfriend, I dropped down to 107 lbs -- the weight I entered college at. I was proud of myself earlier this summer for weighing in at 115, but since then I have gained back a few pounds and this morning I was somewhere between 117 and 118 (it's hard to tell sometimes with my scale; it's not digital). My ideal weight is somewhere around that 107-110 mark, but I'm really not that concerned if I ever weigh that much again; plus, everything I've read about nutrition while training for a marathon reports that you shouldn't be trying to lose weight while training for a marathon because you need to ensure that you consume lots of calories in order to have enough energy to put in the miles.

However, I think that losing a few initial pounds would be helpful and would make me feel better. So why the three week time limit? That's when I face off with my friend Ryan for our 5K challenge, and I figure if I'm carrying 3 pounds less for that race, I just might fly through the course a little better.

Some Cross Training, Saturday Alarms, & a Dog in the Laundry

Yesterday afternoon I got home from class feeling beat from a busy first week back to school and a huge part of me wanted to bury myself in the cool covers and take a nice long nap, but instead, I resisted and I cleaned the house, did the laundry and even went to the gym and did my cross training. I went 30 minutes on the eliptical machine (and was next to a woman who reeked of cigarettes) and then lifted (arms and back).

And I was full of good intentions last night when I tucked myself into bed to get up early this morning and fit my run in before sun-up, but when the alarm went off at 6 am I said, "Please no!" and shut it off and returned to dreamland. This means I now I have to wait until this evening to go for my run because I don't want to do five miles on the treadmill -- that's just too awful for me.

That's about it for this Saturday. Took Scooter to the vet this morning for a regular check-up; poor little fella had to get a fecal test (nobody likes a stick up the butt), but he got four new toys so he's pretty happy now -- just chillin in the clean laundry.

I deserve a pat on the back

Because I actually got up this morning and ran. Yes, that's right. I did it. 3 miles. That's what was on the schedule, so I feel on track today, and it's a good thing I got it done this morning; otherwise, I won't get home until late tonight from class and I know won't run then (I will be tired, I know it, and my brain will be goo).

I also picked up Hal Higdon's "Marathon" book yesterday. Read the first few pages. Makes me feel like a legitimate runner!

Confession

Bless me bloggers, for I have sinned: I skipped my planned day of running yesterday and instead of making it up with a longer one this morning, I did the scheduled short run with the planned strength training. With classes starting this week, I've been very busy, and yesterday was one long-ass day on campus, so I didn't fit my run in.

I do think, however, that walking from building to building and up and down flights of stairs should count for something.

An Ode to Snacks

There are many things I love to eat: big plates of spaghetti, thick hunks of cake, heaping bowls of ice cream, and piles of chicken marsala. Unfortunately, I can't really eat like that, even running can't burn as many calories as I'd like to consume, and usually when I have those above mentioned treats, I try to limit my portions (note the word "try"). But aside from a deep love of all things rich and fat-laden, I also love many snacks that aren't too bad for you, and because I love a list, I thought I would give to you a top ten among light snacks.

These treats are all approximately 100-150 calories in their appropriate serving size. Here they are in descending order (best for last):

10. Banana

9. Snack pack sized cottage cheese

8. Apple

7. Small pita (pitettes, they are often called) and tbl spoon of hummus

6. Biscotti

5. String Cheese

4. Snack pack no-sugar Jello-O (cherry, please) with a tbl spoon of Cool Whip Free

3. Package of generic fruit snacks

2. Starbucks Tall No-Fat Latte

1. 100 calorie pack Chips Ahoy!

If you have your own to add, please do so. I'm always looking to expand my low-cal snack repetoire!

Talk Dirty to Me!

I think the pictures tell the story of our night at the Poison concert best (hint: comments precede the appropriate pictures -- didn't want to confuse anyone):

Here's the gang at the end of the night playing in the funfetti up by the stage. Our seats were no where near this close, we were up on the lawn (getting poured on and slipping in the muddy grass) but I think that's where they put the awesome people, because we had a blast!


I don't know these people (met them in the parking lot while tailgating), but they are the perfect example of the sort of "color" one sees at an event that features Poison. Clearly, I was under-dressed.

I fell in the mud, no wait, let me re-phrase that, I was dragged through the mud by one of my cohorts. I was a diiirty girl! (Psst, that's my husband standing next to me. This is a monumental moment bloggers: He let me post a picture with him in it! Maybe he wants a bit of the limelight?)

This is how you get an event started -- in the parking lot! We spotted four Camaros (spelling?) which was a little disappointing. We thought for sure there would be loads of Camaros, Trans Ams, and Mustangs, but really, they weren't outnumbering any other vehicle.

It was a grand time, my friends. So my advice? See Poison in a town near you. Especially if the tickets are $15. That was less than the price of two beers inside the concert!

Sunday's Schedule

I ended up skipping my cross training on Friday, so because I felt guilty about it, I did my cross training yesterday (30 minutes eliptical, weights) and I plan to run my four miles some time today, instead of taking today off. The trouble is that I slept in this morning, so I blew running when it was cool outside, and tonight I'm going to a concert (Poison!) so I won't get to run then. That means, yes you guessed it, I'll have to go to the gym and get my miles in on the treadmill. Icky.

We Shook On It

My friend Ryan and I have entered into a binding wager (punishment of withdrawal from said agreement is death, just so you know Ryan) concerning my upcoming 5K in September. We have agreed to both race to beat our own PRs. My best time is 29:52 and his is 28:00. If one person beats their own PR but the other one doesn't beat his or her PR, then the loser has to pay the winner's race entrance fee. But we are undecided as to what we should do if it's a draw. What do you guys think? Should we just each pay our own entry fee? Or is there an alternative that's more interesting?

This does provide me with some extra incentive and I would love the opportunity to kick his ass since he is the bane of my bowling existence (yes, his team beat ours last night and they were able to take second place in the league, ass goblins). Anyway, I'd better start putting some serious efforts into my training: No skipping the cross training this afternoon!

Morning Run

This morning I joined the ranks of smuggy smuggersons and I ran early. I have a full day today and bowling tonight, so I knew that if I was going to fit my run in, I had to do it early. And I actually did it, which is kind of amazing. I got my 3 miles in for the day, and now I am showered and ready to go; I can understand why getting it out of the way in the morning is so appealing (plus, it is so much cooler!).

I may have to get used to this: Fall semester is going to be a busy one and if I want to get my training in, I'll have to rise early most days of the week. Crap.

5 pm Run...

...NOT a good idea. I figured since I planned to only run 2 miles that I needn't worry that it was still about 92 degrees outside with the sun shining down. A mile into it, I was spent. Sweat was dripping into my eyes (which prompted my deep thought for the day: tears and sweat are essentially composed of the same elements -- salt and water, right? -- so why does one sooth the eyes and one sting?) and I was blinded.

I trudged on and finished my measly run for the day (I had some strength training on the menu as well), but I sure do wish I had just driven the ten minutes to the gym and ran my 2 miles in air conditioned comfort.

Numb Butt

So, today was the first of four days of faculty workshops before the semester begins next Monday. What does that mean? Mostly it means sitting on my butt for eight hours listening and watching PowerPoint presentation after PowerPoint presentation on how to be a good (no, wait, great!) college professor.

I don't sit well for that length of time.

As an instructor, I spend most days standing (and pacing) in front of a classroom while students sit (this experience certainly gave me some perspective about their point of view). I also walk back and forth between buildings on campus, and up and down stairs to the various classrooms I teach in. Yes, some days are spent locked away in my office sitting and reading papers, but I can never do that for an extended period; I always give myself breaks where I get up, walk around, and do something else. I don't know how people in an office can do it; my butt is literally uncomfortable and sore (even sitting and typing this now is trying for my butt and low back).

To stay awake for a full day of lectures and workshops, I fueled up on about five cups of coffee (don't be too worried, I interspersed coffee guzzling with bottles of water -- which means I made many trips to the bathroom, and that helped break up the day some), so now I feel like I could wallpaper a bathroom (except my efforts over the past year have been to de-wallpaper my house)! And for once, I'm looking forward to my run this evening: I need to burn off the excessive caffeine and I need the physical exertion; my legs are killing me -- they are begging for some exercise!

Monday: Not my "run" day

Yesterday was a lovely rest day -- it feels so good to do nothing and not feel guilty about it; it's on my schedule: no running. And today is a day for yoga. I plan to go to a class at the gym this evening. I haven't been to yoga in about 8 weeks, and I just can't practice in the same way at home (primarily because I have a dog who thinks the mat looks like a good place for him to lay down, and he licks my face whenever I get close to the floor), so I'm looking forward to this evening's session.

Tomorrow I hit the trails again. Well, not trails, sidewalks.

29:52

A new PR for Jess! 29:52 (could be a few seconds less -- it was a "fun run" so there were no Champion Chips to record individual times)! My first mile was a little too fast (9 minutes exactly) and from there I got progressively slower. I passed the second mile marker at exactly 19 minutes and then barely got to the finish under the 30 minute mark, so I had a 9, then 10, and then 11 minute miles.

But despite my slowing throughout the race, instead of speeding up in the course, I am still very pleased with my time since it's my best so far. The last 5K I ran (back in February), was about 30:30 I think.

It was a good run, not too hot, and now I think I will shower and take a nap.

P.S. My digital camera is in its last days (it's dying a slow death), so I'm currently taking donations to buy a new one. I would prefer the new 7.0 pixel Sony Cybershot, so if everyone chips in about $20, I can have a new one within the week. Thanks. I promise to take better pictures (or really, I promise to have my husband take better pictures -- many thanks to him for getting up at 6 am to join me for the morning race!).

No Sweat Prep

Tomorrow is my "No Sweat" 5K (something tells me that title is a misnomer), and I'm all ready. I'm registered, I have the directions, I have my clothes ready, and I have my breakfast determined (bowl of cereal, cup of coffee -- hope it flushes the system ahead of time and perks me up). So, the race is at 7 am (poopy morning race on a Saturday morning), and in order to fully digest my planned breakfast and to drive there in time, I think I will need to get up at 5:15 am.

That's what I hate about races -- the time. I suppose if I were a morning runner, it would be perfect, but I hate getting up early and can't say I ever run my best at an early hour; however, I will work through it. I'll at least be excited for the race; my husband on the other hand, may fall asleep on the sidelines.

He's being such a good husband and supporter by agreeing to come along (and be the official Jess picture-taker). He does demand breakfast afterward though, and we will both probably go back to bed for a long nap once we get home. I'll let everyone know how it goes tomorrow: Cross your fingers and pray it's not too hot!

Insomnia

I can't sleep tonight. Not sure if it's because I took a two hour nap this afternoon before my cross training session or if it's because I know I can sleep in tomorrow, but for whatever reason, here I am. Sometimes when I can't sleep or when I'm bored and I turn to the Internet, I Google people I know or have known and see if I can find what they're up to. If I can even find them, they're not up to much. But after I have exhausted that list, I Google myself.

It's weird Googling yourself (I know everyone reading this has done it, and if you haven't, you should -- it's a quintessential online experience). I'm used to seeing hits for an artist who shares my name, a doctor practicing in Ohio, and a poet who lives in New York, but I wasn't prepared as I scrolled through a new list today of the runners with my name. There are other Jesses out there running 5Ks and marathons and half marathons, and for a moment, I had an out of body experience when I thought I had found myself, but it turned out to be another Jess who ran a Turkey Trot the same Thanksgiving I did, but she was in a different city.

After that, I had to quit. It begins to make you feel as though you're not you're real self. And it definitely undermines the notion that you are unique; not a reality I was searching for at 1 am. I was looking for something to put me to sleep, but now I have questions about "identity" that will keep me up all night!

Cooler Temps

Yesterday evening, a cooling rain helped drop the temps in our area, and my evening run was actually very pleasant. If only I hadn't eaten about a dozen pot-stickers for dinner (they're so small and they go down so easy), I might have felt a little more comfortable during my run. As it was, the entire three miles felt like I had a brick in my stomach.

Hottest Year Ever

If you have been thinking that this summer feels hotter than any previous summer, you would be right. According to weather experts, this year is the hottest recorded year so far. The only other year with comparable heat was 1934 (the middle of the Dust Bowl). And the summer's not over yet!

Plus, according to the National Climatic Data Center, we are having record heats at night as well; the atmosphere is retaining more mositure so it's trapping hot air close to the earth, and that's why it doesn't feel a whole lot cooler when we go for our runs after the sun has set. No wonder I'm such a sweaty monkey when I return from my runs (and I've been keeping them around 3 miles lately because I just get so hot on anything much longer).

So, make sure you're keeping cool and hydrated. I don't want reports of spontaneous human combustion filtering through the blogosphere!