Kiwi? Have you written anything since your tirade about the Ultra?
No.
Are you planning anything? Like if I write about the bridge run, I'm not gonna mess up your plans to talk about how crazy all my races are?
I can talk about that 8 days a week.
On that note.
The Enmark Savannah River Bridge Run was last weekend. Last year, I ran the 10K in a 1:10:something. This year I posted a 1:05:51.
I should be delighted with that, right? No. It was too easy.
Not that the bridge is easy, but I didn't give it my all and have been annoyed with it since. If you look at the numbers, I did great. If you look at my effort, I failed big time. To some extent, the bridge snuck up on me. I didn't plan/train for it. I had 2 clients run, both of whom beat their goal times. That's a win. :)
So now there's nothing to do but move on.
Saturday I have a client running a fun run and plan to go see that. Then the following Sunday (one week) is the Jacksonville Half Marathon. Which means, well, it kinda snuck up on me too. My current Half PR is a 2:17:10. The run in Athens. I need a 2:17:09 to "beat" that, but on a scale of effort, I need a 2:04:10 to match my previous effort. We'll see...
Did you talk about the online games?
No.
You should talk about the online games.
Okay.
Kiwi is talking about 2 things, the first of which he has already written about. The Runner's World Run Streak goes from Thanksgiving through New Years with the goal of running a mile a day. We're doing that. The second thing is the MapMyRun Stay Fit Fitness Challenge. During the month of December, we log 30 minutes of exercise a day for at least 20 days with the final prize a drawing for a $100 Amazon gift card. ...we're doing that, too.
Did you talk about the site stats?
Nope.
You should talk about the site stats.
Okay.
We've reached 1000+ hits! When I just checked, we were at 1400, which is very exciting! Thank you for reading/tolerating us, and passing this along to your friends.
Just a reminder, you can keep up with us on twitter at @TheKashaShow, or on facebook, where Kasha Jones is a community business/athlete.
That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi.
This is Kiwi.
She went away. She's worried about Jacksonville because it snuck up on her, too.
I don't know how a race can sneak. It can't move. But I think that's why she forgot to talk about so many things.
So wish her luck in Jacksonville.
She needs her cheering squad right now.
LOVE KIWI
Friday, December 7, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Kasha Signs Up For Stupid. BY KIWI
In case you are new here, I am KIWI. I am Kasha's phone. She is decorating her Christmas corner and cleaning and doing, well, stuff. I use the italics. That's how you know it's me.
Kasha has a race fever.
That means when she doesn't have a Big Race coming up, she gets weird.
Well, weirder than her usual level of weird.
On Thursday we got to do the United Way Turkey Trot. She let me ride in the stroller. I like that, but she says she won't push a stroller just for me to ride in. Also, we are doing Runner's World Run Streak. That means we (Kasha) runs at least a mile every day from Thanksgiving through New Years. This is good because she needs to run a lot to pretend to be like everyone else. This is bad because Kasha is gonna want to run every single day. But you know what's funny? The first 3 days of the streak, she had to push a stroller. Thursday was Turkey Trot with Aidan. Friday she was taking care of Aidan and his big brother all day, so she borrowed a double stroller and off we went! Saturday she took Aidan with her to go walk dogs. They stroller-ed to that, too. But that made Sunday's run really cool.
Kasha's first ever run goal was an 8 minute mile. Just one. Just once. Couldn't do it. After November Race (Rock n Roll Savannah) she decided she would be a 9 minute runner. That means her go-to pace would be 9 minutes. And her first 4 mile run, she did it! So on Sunday, Kasha was mad at, well, everything. Her car broke. Yucko. But she had been pushing that stroller really hard! So she flew out the door super fast. She ran a 7:35 mile!!! She was so excited!
Then she spent an hour calculating splits and new possible race times.
See? She's totally weird.
So Sunday's run broke, like really big broke; the old record. She's very happy. Today she used the treadmill at gym-work and ran 1.5 miles just for fun at a 9:13 pace.
On Saturday, we run the Savannah River Bridge Run. The first year, Kasha ran with a friend. The second year she coached and ran a new runner. The third year, she moved up to the 10k. This year, we will run the 10k again. Then later that month we will go to Jacksonville for December Race. She's very excited, because her Boston-runner friend go there, too.
Oh. I got off track.
I was gonna tell you what happened when Kasha got race fever.
January was gonna be our Charleston full marathon race. But she hadn't signed up yet, because she also hadn't dealt with the hotel logistics. Then Fleet Feet emailed.
...Fleet Feet emails are dangerous. They say stuff like "shoes on sale!" "cool new runner clothes!" and "check out this Ultra Marathon!"
WHAT?!?!?
An Ultra Marathon is a race more than 26.2 miles. The distances usually go from 50 km (31 miles) all the way to Stupid (100 billion million infinity miles).
You know how people-brains work? They go, "26 miles? That's crazy! I'm gonna eat some pie!"
You know how Kasha's brain works? It goes, "31 miles? That's only 5 more than 26!"
Then her brain did more bad stuff. It went like this:
"31 miles? That's only 5 more than 26! There's an 8 hour time limit. My longest marathon took 6 hours. That's two more whole hours to crawl 5 miles! And I did the first Turkey Trot as my first 5K and went back to Athens, Ga for their first half marathon to be my first half marathon and I did my first full marathon as the first Savannah marathon and if the Ultra goes well, I will have always done the first one and if it isn't well-received, I will have done the only one as my first one and my city is GIVING me an Ultra. ...it would be rude to not do it. And this is the Universe telling me why I never signed up for Charleston and-"
I'm just gonna cut it off there.
January 12th, Kasha is gonna run 31 miles.
....I hope I can ride in the stroller.
LOVE KIWI
Kasha has a race fever.
That means when she doesn't have a Big Race coming up, she gets weird.
Well, weirder than her usual level of weird.
On Thursday we got to do the United Way Turkey Trot. She let me ride in the stroller. I like that, but she says she won't push a stroller just for me to ride in. Also, we are doing Runner's World Run Streak. That means we (Kasha) runs at least a mile every day from Thanksgiving through New Years. This is good because she needs to run a lot to pretend to be like everyone else. This is bad because Kasha is gonna want to run every single day. But you know what's funny? The first 3 days of the streak, she had to push a stroller. Thursday was Turkey Trot with Aidan. Friday she was taking care of Aidan and his big brother all day, so she borrowed a double stroller and off we went! Saturday she took Aidan with her to go walk dogs. They stroller-ed to that, too. But that made Sunday's run really cool.
Kasha's first ever run goal was an 8 minute mile. Just one. Just once. Couldn't do it. After November Race (Rock n Roll Savannah) she decided she would be a 9 minute runner. That means her go-to pace would be 9 minutes. And her first 4 mile run, she did it! So on Sunday, Kasha was mad at, well, everything. Her car broke. Yucko. But she had been pushing that stroller really hard! So she flew out the door super fast. She ran a 7:35 mile!!! She was so excited!
Then she spent an hour calculating splits and new possible race times.
See? She's totally weird.
So Sunday's run broke, like really big broke; the old record. She's very happy. Today she used the treadmill at gym-work and ran 1.5 miles just for fun at a 9:13 pace.
On Saturday, we run the Savannah River Bridge Run. The first year, Kasha ran with a friend. The second year she coached and ran a new runner. The third year, she moved up to the 10k. This year, we will run the 10k again. Then later that month we will go to Jacksonville for December Race. She's very excited, because her Boston-runner friend go there, too.
Oh. I got off track.
I was gonna tell you what happened when Kasha got race fever.
January was gonna be our Charleston full marathon race. But she hadn't signed up yet, because she also hadn't dealt with the hotel logistics. Then Fleet Feet emailed.
...Fleet Feet emails are dangerous. They say stuff like "shoes on sale!" "cool new runner clothes!" and "check out this Ultra Marathon!"
WHAT?!?!?
An Ultra Marathon is a race more than 26.2 miles. The distances usually go from 50 km (31 miles) all the way to Stupid (100 billion million infinity miles).
You know how people-brains work? They go, "26 miles? That's crazy! I'm gonna eat some pie!"
You know how Kasha's brain works? It goes, "31 miles? That's only 5 more than 26!"
Then her brain did more bad stuff. It went like this:
"31 miles? That's only 5 more than 26! There's an 8 hour time limit. My longest marathon took 6 hours. That's two more whole hours to crawl 5 miles! And I did the first Turkey Trot as my first 5K and went back to Athens, Ga for their first half marathon to be my first half marathon and I did my first full marathon as the first Savannah marathon and if the Ultra goes well, I will have always done the first one and if it isn't well-received, I will have done the only one as my first one and my city is GIVING me an Ultra. ...it would be rude to not do it. And this is the Universe telling me why I never signed up for Charleston and-"
I'm just gonna cut it off there.
January 12th, Kasha is gonna run 31 miles.
....I hope I can ride in the stroller.
LOVE KIWI
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Kasha's Run-iversary & Turkey Trot
Thursday is my anniversary.
3 years.
...of racing.
The United Way Turkey Trot began 4 years ago in Savannah. It was the first race I signed up for. I remember when I first started running and built up to 3 miles. Someone pointed out that a 5k is 3.1 miles. I knew I could make it that last .1. So I signed up, picked up my packet, freaked out about everything freak out-able, and showed up to run. My music player cord got tangled and I got a stitch so bad I thought I might walk. I didn't. I made it 3.1 miles and was hooked. I was shaking with endorphins when I crossed the finish line. In the following year, I ran 25+ 5ks. Most of them back-to-back weekends and at least one set of Friday night & Saturday morning. Since then I have won my age group and been almost last. I've completed 5ks, 8ks, 10ks, half marathons, full marathons, and a triathlon. I've had courses that weren't marked and ran too far, races on trails, runs that brought me to walks, and songs at the wrong moment that made me almost cry. I've raced alone, tried to keep up with others, slowed for others, and gone out too fast. I've looked for loved ones who never showed up and been pleasantly surprised when others have. I've held back, thrown up, and lost toe nails. At times I've gone to bed without showering because I know I'll just be running another 5 in the morning. I've been the person who coaches another through painful miles, and I've had racers come back for me. They talk my ear off to give me a concentration point, just as I do for others. I've tried to duct tape my shoes to run the Tybee Half in the rain. Camelbak water packs for the Savannah Rock and Roll. Antlers for Girls on the Run headbands. Cotton shorts to swim a triathlon. And hours upon hours reading race results looking for the names of others. People I can mentally induct into my world of Runners.
But I've never dropped out.
I've never quit.
They don't move the finish line.
This is not a sprint. You do not stop after a bad mile.
Blisters, chafing, aching, muscles that quit, and hair and clothes that become heavy with sweat. Chilled from wind and dropping body temperatures, toenails that seem to get sick after a race, only to fall away in the weeks after.
My body has refused the fuel it knows and resisted food when I know I'm running a four thousand plus calorie deficit. Throwing up chocolate milk and curling up in the shower after a run that hurt mentally as well as physically.
Bad races pictures and some that go viral on Twitter.
On Thursday, I will run the Savannah United Way Turkey Trot. Year 4 is 4 miles. The beginning of my year long race season.
But this year, I will be racing with a partner. Aidan is 5 and last year I promised to push him in the Turkey Trot. We've practiced with the stroller and he's the perfect running buddy. He talks my ear off and hands me water. He tells me I am fast, even when I'm not. We have decorations planned for the stroller and an Indian costume for him. He's not my kid, but he tolerates me. His mom and sister run the Turkey Trot as well. He's excited to be a part of our multi-family Thanksgiving tradition and I'm going to enjoy the stroller year, as he already has a pretty killer mile. Soon, he will insist on running it himself.
Then it will be my turn to slow down and pace another up and coming runner.
Because that's what we do.
Run hard when you have it, run harder for anyone else.
And ALWAYS be thankful we can do this. Some can't, someday we may be among them.
Never. Stop. Running.
Happy Run-iversary to me, and Happy Thanksgiving to you.
3 years.
...of racing.
The United Way Turkey Trot began 4 years ago in Savannah. It was the first race I signed up for. I remember when I first started running and built up to 3 miles. Someone pointed out that a 5k is 3.1 miles. I knew I could make it that last .1. So I signed up, picked up my packet, freaked out about everything freak out-able, and showed up to run. My music player cord got tangled and I got a stitch so bad I thought I might walk. I didn't. I made it 3.1 miles and was hooked. I was shaking with endorphins when I crossed the finish line. In the following year, I ran 25+ 5ks. Most of them back-to-back weekends and at least one set of Friday night & Saturday morning. Since then I have won my age group and been almost last. I've completed 5ks, 8ks, 10ks, half marathons, full marathons, and a triathlon. I've had courses that weren't marked and ran too far, races on trails, runs that brought me to walks, and songs at the wrong moment that made me almost cry. I've raced alone, tried to keep up with others, slowed for others, and gone out too fast. I've looked for loved ones who never showed up and been pleasantly surprised when others have. I've held back, thrown up, and lost toe nails. At times I've gone to bed without showering because I know I'll just be running another 5 in the morning. I've been the person who coaches another through painful miles, and I've had racers come back for me. They talk my ear off to give me a concentration point, just as I do for others. I've tried to duct tape my shoes to run the Tybee Half in the rain. Camelbak water packs for the Savannah Rock and Roll. Antlers for Girls on the Run headbands. Cotton shorts to swim a triathlon. And hours upon hours reading race results looking for the names of others. People I can mentally induct into my world of Runners.
But I've never dropped out.
I've never quit.
They don't move the finish line.
This is not a sprint. You do not stop after a bad mile.
Blisters, chafing, aching, muscles that quit, and hair and clothes that become heavy with sweat. Chilled from wind and dropping body temperatures, toenails that seem to get sick after a race, only to fall away in the weeks after.
My body has refused the fuel it knows and resisted food when I know I'm running a four thousand plus calorie deficit. Throwing up chocolate milk and curling up in the shower after a run that hurt mentally as well as physically.
Bad races pictures and some that go viral on Twitter.
On Thursday, I will run the Savannah United Way Turkey Trot. Year 4 is 4 miles. The beginning of my year long race season.
But this year, I will be racing with a partner. Aidan is 5 and last year I promised to push him in the Turkey Trot. We've practiced with the stroller and he's the perfect running buddy. He talks my ear off and hands me water. He tells me I am fast, even when I'm not. We have decorations planned for the stroller and an Indian costume for him. He's not my kid, but he tolerates me. His mom and sister run the Turkey Trot as well. He's excited to be a part of our multi-family Thanksgiving tradition and I'm going to enjoy the stroller year, as he already has a pretty killer mile. Soon, he will insist on running it himself.
Then it will be my turn to slow down and pace another up and coming runner.
Because that's what we do.
Run hard when you have it, run harder for anyone else.
And ALWAYS be thankful we can do this. Some can't, someday we may be among them.
Never. Stop. Running.
Happy Run-iversary to me, and Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Kiwi Breaks Facebook and Kasha Finishes A Marathon
Kiwi said he broke an app. That was almost correct. He broke Facebook. I'm not even on Facebook! I dropped it about 2 years ago and never missed it. Well, a certain little electronic CRETIN, along with some of my clients, decided it would be brilliant business to create a Facebook page for me.
....you can see where this is going.
So, I'm technically not on Facebook, since I'm not a "people page." Kiwi set me up as a community business/athlete.
Kasha on Facebook
Thanks?
This means that in order for people to find me, they search for my name, then click a little orange flag next to the search options and select Community.
I think.
This is like a fan page. "Kasha Jones" (with the pic of me post-Milestone Half Marathon) on Facebook cannot be friends with anyone or comment on anything beyond the timeline. "It" can only be "liked." Whatevs. So Kiwi did this, updated the status 11 times (accidentally), and knocked out Facebook in Singapore for about 2 hours. It was a special level of annoyance.
Then while I was napping he set up his own email address. For what?? He's already on Twitter (@TheKashaShow), this blog, and now Facebook! Email too?
....as you may have noticed, Kiwi has not interjected his commentary this evening. That is because he is in time out.
Forever.
Okay, until I figure out how to turn off Facebook notifications.
So there was that whole marathon thing, remember? I left off puking at mile 16. Let's finish that race. Usually after you get sick, you feel better. That was not the case. My stomach hurt and the back of my legs seized up tightly! I kept moving through Savannah State and was lucky- a medical tent within crawling, er, running distance. I asked for salt, hoping electrolyte imbalance was my problem. The salt worked so quickly I got some speed back and gained some confidence from my on-the-run diagnosis. Then it happened again. One packet was not enough. By the time I got through the university, I'd gone through 3 packets.
However, the salt was not the sole thing keeping me on my feet. Savannah State students were out in full force. Whether they were working in shifts or just tireless I don't know, but the cheers, comments, and high fives never quit. The stadium had dance groups, cheerleaders, the baseball team, and my ultra crew ready to go again. Brother-in-law Blake and sister Tiffany ran the camera and Kiwi while my sister Lily and I ran around the track. This resulted in a picture posted on Twitter that got picked up by Competitor Group and retweeted to about 30 multimedia markets worldwide.
I'm famous online.
Not really, but it was cool.
Out of Savannah State and toward Washington Avenue, which I had dubbed The Fourth Quarter. I just had to get there, past my high school (Savannah Arts Academy), and back to Victory Drive. I was moving much slower, but still hoping for a sub-5 marathon. On the way back toward Chatham Crescent (a stunning example of old Savannah architecture and landscaping) I thought I heard my name. Nope, couldn't be. Yes, it was! Tiffany ran up beside me with water and Gu chomps. ....I had given my fuel belt to Lily at Savannah State after stuffing Chomps in the ID pocket of my handheld water bottle. I told her I was fine and she later told me I was still moving fast enough that they almost missed me. They were expecting to see me as I first passed our old high school.
Back down Washington Ave into Daffin Park. This felt like home. Most Savannah runners have spent some time running or racing in this area and the familiarity becomes a momentary home field advantage. I felt calm and comfortable beyond the aching in my calves and hamstrings, and still in control of my thoughts. The finish line is less than a 10k away, I'm in a familiar location, and the Fleet Feet group is nearby.
Slight redirect- Fleet Feet Savannah. I can't say enough about our running store. They'll help you find YOUR shoes, the socks that don't rub, the goal race you want, and never fail to look impressed with the distance of your morning run. Fleet Feet breathes running as I do and knowing they're close is like having a friend nearby. I won't need to lean on them today because they are there and that's enough. They are "my people" even though this is anonymous enough that they'll never see it. Thanks, Fleet Feet. You've helped me find the shoes I love and then campaigned to bring a marathon right here to our city. I really can't ask for more. ...but if I could, I know you'd deliver.
...out of Daffin Park and a few back roads toward Victory Drive and the last stretch of Truman. Victory is blocked off in one lane. I love running with the cars. It's how I train, so it is another moment of what feels comfortable. I get on Truman and run-walk to the end. A single medical station has run out of water, but has salt. I use my water to wash it down. I remember turning onto Anderson as I did so many early mornings training with Kylie. It looks long. For a moment I consider crying. My feet ache, my legs are signalling defeat. Then I see it. A neon green vest that can only mean one thing. Camera man. We do not walk on camera. We do not frown on camera. The cameras capture mere moments of our runs, I want to remember how much I love this, not the momentary pain. I smile and run. Just beyond him, another one! The camera men keep me running and smiling down Anderson. They were spaced so well that by the time I turned onto Drayton to finish the race, I'd forgotten I had considered crying.
I ran through the finish at 5:22:37.
40 minutes off of last year's race!
I'm too happy about dropping a minute and a half per mile to care that it is not a sub-5!
I was so excited!
Tiffany and Blake waited while I tried to make sure the runner I trained for the half had finished (win), take off my running shoes (fail), keep down chocolate milk (fail), or even navigate a portapotty (epic fail). We browsed the finisher's village, something I didn't get to do last year; and headed out.
Headed away from the race we passed the clean up crew on Washington Avenue. If the clean up crew was going though, the last runners couldn't be far in front! We got permission to go down a side street to get in front of the last 2 groups of people. I was barefoot and aching, but I was done while they had about 4 miles to go. So we got out and started cheering. They gave us grateful looks and kept going.
I don't care if you're dead last.
You did it and that deserves a cheering section.
We yelled thank yous to the clean up crews and they blew the truck horns in response and gave me (and my medal) a thumbs up.
We decided to blame all the mess on Kiwi (It was a REALLY big mess), and drive home.
Last year, it took a few months for my brain and body to sync into considering another full distance marathon. This time it took 4 bloody toenails and 24 hours.
....let's go, people. These things aren't gonna run themselves.
Halves: 1 down, 5 to go
Fulls: 1 down, 5 to go
....you can see where this is going.
So, I'm technically not on Facebook, since I'm not a "people page." Kiwi set me up as a community business/athlete.
Kasha on Facebook
Thanks?
This means that in order for people to find me, they search for my name, then click a little orange flag next to the search options and select Community.
I think.
This is like a fan page. "Kasha Jones" (with the pic of me post-Milestone Half Marathon) on Facebook cannot be friends with anyone or comment on anything beyond the timeline. "It" can only be "liked." Whatevs. So Kiwi did this, updated the status 11 times (accidentally), and knocked out Facebook in Singapore for about 2 hours. It was a special level of annoyance.
Then while I was napping he set up his own email address. For what?? He's already on Twitter (@TheKashaShow), this blog, and now Facebook! Email too?
....as you may have noticed, Kiwi has not interjected his commentary this evening. That is because he is in time out.
Forever.
Okay, until I figure out how to turn off Facebook notifications.
So there was that whole marathon thing, remember? I left off puking at mile 16. Let's finish that race. Usually after you get sick, you feel better. That was not the case. My stomach hurt and the back of my legs seized up tightly! I kept moving through Savannah State and was lucky- a medical tent within crawling, er, running distance. I asked for salt, hoping electrolyte imbalance was my problem. The salt worked so quickly I got some speed back and gained some confidence from my on-the-run diagnosis. Then it happened again. One packet was not enough. By the time I got through the university, I'd gone through 3 packets.
However, the salt was not the sole thing keeping me on my feet. Savannah State students were out in full force. Whether they were working in shifts or just tireless I don't know, but the cheers, comments, and high fives never quit. The stadium had dance groups, cheerleaders, the baseball team, and my ultra crew ready to go again. Brother-in-law Blake and sister Tiffany ran the camera and Kiwi while my sister Lily and I ran around the track. This resulted in a picture posted on Twitter that got picked up by Competitor Group and retweeted to about 30 multimedia markets worldwide.
I'm famous online.
Not really, but it was cool.
Out of Savannah State and toward Washington Avenue, which I had dubbed The Fourth Quarter. I just had to get there, past my high school (Savannah Arts Academy), and back to Victory Drive. I was moving much slower, but still hoping for a sub-5 marathon. On the way back toward Chatham Crescent (a stunning example of old Savannah architecture and landscaping) I thought I heard my name. Nope, couldn't be. Yes, it was! Tiffany ran up beside me with water and Gu chomps. ....I had given my fuel belt to Lily at Savannah State after stuffing Chomps in the ID pocket of my handheld water bottle. I told her I was fine and she later told me I was still moving fast enough that they almost missed me. They were expecting to see me as I first passed our old high school.
Back down Washington Ave into Daffin Park. This felt like home. Most Savannah runners have spent some time running or racing in this area and the familiarity becomes a momentary home field advantage. I felt calm and comfortable beyond the aching in my calves and hamstrings, and still in control of my thoughts. The finish line is less than a 10k away, I'm in a familiar location, and the Fleet Feet group is nearby.
Slight redirect- Fleet Feet Savannah. I can't say enough about our running store. They'll help you find YOUR shoes, the socks that don't rub, the goal race you want, and never fail to look impressed with the distance of your morning run. Fleet Feet breathes running as I do and knowing they're close is like having a friend nearby. I won't need to lean on them today because they are there and that's enough. They are "my people" even though this is anonymous enough that they'll never see it. Thanks, Fleet Feet. You've helped me find the shoes I love and then campaigned to bring a marathon right here to our city. I really can't ask for more. ...but if I could, I know you'd deliver.
...out of Daffin Park and a few back roads toward Victory Drive and the last stretch of Truman. Victory is blocked off in one lane. I love running with the cars. It's how I train, so it is another moment of what feels comfortable. I get on Truman and run-walk to the end. A single medical station has run out of water, but has salt. I use my water to wash it down. I remember turning onto Anderson as I did so many early mornings training with Kylie. It looks long. For a moment I consider crying. My feet ache, my legs are signalling defeat. Then I see it. A neon green vest that can only mean one thing. Camera man. We do not walk on camera. We do not frown on camera. The cameras capture mere moments of our runs, I want to remember how much I love this, not the momentary pain. I smile and run. Just beyond him, another one! The camera men keep me running and smiling down Anderson. They were spaced so well that by the time I turned onto Drayton to finish the race, I'd forgotten I had considered crying.
I ran through the finish at 5:22:37.
40 minutes off of last year's race!
I'm too happy about dropping a minute and a half per mile to care that it is not a sub-5!
I was so excited!
Tiffany and Blake waited while I tried to make sure the runner I trained for the half had finished (win), take off my running shoes (fail), keep down chocolate milk (fail), or even navigate a portapotty (epic fail). We browsed the finisher's village, something I didn't get to do last year; and headed out.
Headed away from the race we passed the clean up crew on Washington Avenue. If the clean up crew was going though, the last runners couldn't be far in front! We got permission to go down a side street to get in front of the last 2 groups of people. I was barefoot and aching, but I was done while they had about 4 miles to go. So we got out and started cheering. They gave us grateful looks and kept going.
I don't care if you're dead last.
You did it and that deserves a cheering section.
We yelled thank yous to the clean up crews and they blew the truck horns in response and gave me (and my medal) a thumbs up.
We decided to blame all the mess on Kiwi (It was a REALLY big mess), and drive home.
Last year, it took a few months for my brain and body to sync into considering another full distance marathon. This time it took 4 bloody toenails and 24 hours.
....let's go, people. These things aren't gonna run themselves.
Halves: 1 down, 5 to go
Fulls: 1 down, 5 to go
Thursday, November 8, 2012
November Race; Miles 1-16
Kiwi.
What?
It's been, like, a week since the marathon. Are you gonna post anything?
I got a new app.
So I'll be writing?
Yup.
Saturday the 3rd was the Rock and Roll Marathon benefiting the American Cancer Society here in Savannah, Ga. Last year I completed the full marathon in 6:03:25. This year I completed it in Awesome:Much:Faster. Okay, let's get to the story.
My sister Tiffany-
And Nu Blu!
Hush, Kiwi. My sister Tiffany and her phone "Nu Blu" dropped me off downtown at 6:30am. I walked a block to the start line and talked to some other runners. Competitor Group, a for-profit organization, does a great job with their events. Bathroom wait? Nada. Walked right up. And corrals? No problem. I just jumped into Corral 10 and headed for the start. I knew I picked the right one when our start music was Eye of the Tiger.
Off we go! Headed down Bay Street toward the industrial district. Let me state: these people rock! It's cold out and we're moving. They're standing there cheering their heads off with only jackets and coffee to keep them warm. I'm enjoying the crowds and the other runners more than my own music. Under I-16 & back downtown for more mileage, cheering crowds with some old school and some original signs, and the dreaded brick streets.
Did you fall down?
No. But I threw up later.
I didn't fall down, I headed for Gordonston with everyone else. Around mile 10, I was very close to my Athens Half pace and delighted with that. Gordonston, like the industrial district; was out in force with their own homemade water stations, kids and adults running back and forth with cut apples, grapes, and oranges, and lots of cheering sections. When you're putting in the kind of effort we were that day, the support of the community is what pulls you through. The grapes help, but knowing someone took the initiative to show up with those grapes goes so much farther.
Out of Gordonston, down Anderson. This is where we separate the slightly mental from the fully committed (or need to be committed). The half marathoners head straight back toward Forsyth while we full marathoners turn on to Truman for part two.
Around mile 15.5, my parents were waiting for me. My mom ran with me for a quarter mile to let me know I was coming in right under 5 hours and see what I needed. I requested Chapstick, which she called ahead to my siblings at Savannah State University. Turning into the university, I had exactly what every runner needs- a fully stocked ultra crew ready to roll! My brother-in-law Blake had the camera rolling while my sister Lily paced me and my sister Tiffany took pictures, gave me Chapstick, filled my handheld water bottle, and restocked my Gu chomps. They put Will in charge of Kiwi and "base camp." Then they left me to run the back circles alone.
That's when the electrolyte imbalance hit. Hard. The chomps I'd trained with for months refused to go down. I remember actually talking to my stomach, saying "better in than out." My stomach responded. It rejected the chomp, the concept, the whole 9 yards. I jumped up on the sidewalk and threw up. Now, as those of you who have been following the blog know; I also threw up at the University of Georgia. Never while I was in school there, but definitely after the race. Now here I was throwing up at Savannah State. All I can say is that I hope the Jacksonville half runs near a college campus. It would be tragic to break the streak now.
Kasha!!!!
What, Kiwi? I'm in the middle of a blog!
I broke the app.
What? How do you break an app?
I dunno, but I did it.
Okay, everyone.
Your favorite electronic idiot needs attention. I'll pick back up tomorrow.
What?
It's been, like, a week since the marathon. Are you gonna post anything?
I got a new app.
So I'll be writing?
Yup.
Saturday the 3rd was the Rock and Roll Marathon benefiting the American Cancer Society here in Savannah, Ga. Last year I completed the full marathon in 6:03:25. This year I completed it in Awesome:Much:Faster. Okay, let's get to the story.
My sister Tiffany-
And Nu Blu!
Hush, Kiwi. My sister Tiffany and her phone "Nu Blu" dropped me off downtown at 6:30am. I walked a block to the start line and talked to some other runners. Competitor Group, a for-profit organization, does a great job with their events. Bathroom wait? Nada. Walked right up. And corrals? No problem. I just jumped into Corral 10 and headed for the start. I knew I picked the right one when our start music was Eye of the Tiger.
Off we go! Headed down Bay Street toward the industrial district. Let me state: these people rock! It's cold out and we're moving. They're standing there cheering their heads off with only jackets and coffee to keep them warm. I'm enjoying the crowds and the other runners more than my own music. Under I-16 & back downtown for more mileage, cheering crowds with some old school and some original signs, and the dreaded brick streets.
Did you fall down?
No. But I threw up later.
I didn't fall down, I headed for Gordonston with everyone else. Around mile 10, I was very close to my Athens Half pace and delighted with that. Gordonston, like the industrial district; was out in force with their own homemade water stations, kids and adults running back and forth with cut apples, grapes, and oranges, and lots of cheering sections. When you're putting in the kind of effort we were that day, the support of the community is what pulls you through. The grapes help, but knowing someone took the initiative to show up with those grapes goes so much farther.
Out of Gordonston, down Anderson. This is where we separate the slightly mental from the fully committed (or need to be committed). The half marathoners head straight back toward Forsyth while we full marathoners turn on to Truman for part two.
Around mile 15.5, my parents were waiting for me. My mom ran with me for a quarter mile to let me know I was coming in right under 5 hours and see what I needed. I requested Chapstick, which she called ahead to my siblings at Savannah State University. Turning into the university, I had exactly what every runner needs- a fully stocked ultra crew ready to roll! My brother-in-law Blake had the camera rolling while my sister Lily paced me and my sister Tiffany took pictures, gave me Chapstick, filled my handheld water bottle, and restocked my Gu chomps. They put Will in charge of Kiwi and "base camp." Then they left me to run the back circles alone.
That's when the electrolyte imbalance hit. Hard. The chomps I'd trained with for months refused to go down. I remember actually talking to my stomach, saying "better in than out." My stomach responded. It rejected the chomp, the concept, the whole 9 yards. I jumped up on the sidewalk and threw up. Now, as those of you who have been following the blog know; I also threw up at the University of Georgia. Never while I was in school there, but definitely after the race. Now here I was throwing up at Savannah State. All I can say is that I hope the Jacksonville half runs near a college campus. It would be tragic to break the streak now.
Kasha!!!!
What, Kiwi? I'm in the middle of a blog!
I broke the app.
What? How do you break an app?
I dunno, but I did it.
Okay, everyone.
Your favorite electronic idiot needs attention. I'll pick back up tomorrow.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Kiwi Does Tech Work
I'M KIWI
I did stuff.
3 stuffs to make the blog better and easier for you to read.
Stuff one: You can now read by email.
On the right hand side of the blog, there is now a place to put your email address and when we add an entry, it goes to your inbox instead of you coming to here! If you are reading this on your Fone, go to the bottom of the page to where it says "web version" or "full site" or something like that. Then do the other stuff I said. We won't spam you. Spam goes in metal cans at the grocery store, not in the mail of people who tolerate Kasha. (Cause I'm totally cute and tolerable ALL THE TIME.)
Stuff two: Races
I signed Kasha up for a bunch (4) of races today. And booked hotels. I did it cause it needed to be done and Kasha is in the middle of taper-crazy. (Lots of coffee and books and I just don't know.) But on the site there is now a schedule of upcoming races and previous times. Like the email button, you need to be looking at the full site to see the list over on the side. It's cool, cause I made it.
Stuff three: You can comment easily.
Blogger should no longer demand personal info for you to comment (or tell Kasha how much she probably needs to go for a run or a coffee-time and let me do the talking). Comments are open and we like them. ...then we know you are reading this and that it is only a little horrible.
That is all.
I gotta play app.
LOVE KIWI
I did stuff.
3 stuffs to make the blog better and easier for you to read.
Stuff one: You can now read by email.
On the right hand side of the blog, there is now a place to put your email address and when we add an entry, it goes to your inbox instead of you coming to here! If you are reading this on your Fone, go to the bottom of the page to where it says "web version" or "full site" or something like that. Then do the other stuff I said. We won't spam you. Spam goes in metal cans at the grocery store, not in the mail of people who tolerate Kasha. (Cause I'm totally cute and tolerable ALL THE TIME.)
Stuff two: Races
I signed Kasha up for a bunch (4) of races today. And booked hotels. I did it cause it needed to be done and Kasha is in the middle of taper-crazy. (Lots of coffee and books and I just don't know.) But on the site there is now a schedule of upcoming races and previous times. Like the email button, you need to be looking at the full site to see the list over on the side. It's cool, cause I made it.
Stuff three: You can comment easily.
Blogger should no longer demand personal info for you to comment (or tell Kasha how much she probably needs to go for a run or a coffee-time and let me do the talking). Comments are open and we like them. ...then we know you are reading this and that it is only a little horrible.
That is all.
I gotta play app.
LOVE KIWI
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Kiwi Joins Twitter & Kasha Goes Taper-Crazy
Kiwi is on Twitter.
That sentence alone is enough crazy for an entire blog post, but I'll elaborate. Kiwi loves this blog, just as I love coffee. And he wants everyone else to love his blog, but that just isn't going to happen. However, for a smart "fone" he can be quite stubborn. As in, didn't stop whining until I gave in and let him join the twit-i-verse so he can advertise his blog.
Um, what?
I thought this was for me. Me and my running. But apparently (and following the email wishes of readers) Kiwi's version of everything is just funnier. So he now has access to the people who choose to follow him on Twitter.
...I'm not really sure who is producing TheKashaShow vs who is starring in it right now.
But that's okay. Because Kiwi still takes time off from Twitter to let me text and make calls.
Thanks, Kiwi.
I think.
Follow Kiwi on Twitter @TheKashaShow
That sentence alone is enough crazy for an entire blog post, but I'll elaborate. Kiwi loves this blog, just as I love coffee. And he wants everyone else to love his blog, but that just isn't going to happen. However, for a smart "fone" he can be quite stubborn. As in, didn't stop whining until I gave in and let him join the twit-i-verse so he can advertise his blog.
Um, what?
I thought this was for me. Me and my running. But apparently (and following the email wishes of readers) Kiwi's version of everything is just funnier. So he now has access to the people who choose to follow him on Twitter.
...I'm not really sure who is producing TheKashaShow vs who is starring in it right now.
But that's okay. Because Kiwi still takes time off from Twitter to let me text and make calls.
Thanks, Kiwi.
I think.
Follow Kiwi on Twitter @TheKashaShow
Friday, October 26, 2012
Kiwi Rides Along For a Run
Kiwi was so excited to have permission to do a post yesterday, he forgot the most important part.
He got to ride along for a run.
And use his running app.
FINALLY!!!
I'm telling this story, Kiwi!
Okay, sorry. You tell it and I will fix it later.
Ah, okay.
So after the client run that he mentioned yesterday, I stopped by "gym-work" to check in, as I tend to telecommute my personal training. I know that doesn't make sense. What I mean is that my clients are in and out of the gym before regular business hours or we're running circles all over downtown Savannah. Thus, I tend to stay in touch via Kiwi or the occasional drop in since I don't overlap with many other trainers or the owner.
Yesterday, the owner was working on putting together a 5k benefit run and was mapping it online.
"I'll just run it."
...can we say issues?
No, but I will spell it! It goes K-a-s-h-a.
Hush. I'm almost done.
So I set up Kiwi to "gps us" and off we went. Well, our 5k (3.1) was a 3.75 instead. So we'll rework that, but more importantly, Kiwi calculated every little split perfectly and behaved beautifully. So this morning I took him out on a client run. He was still a good little Kiwi.
...there may be more Kiwi runs in the future.
THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!!
:: Kasha puts head in hands::
He got to ride along for a run.
And use his running app.
FINALLY!!!
I'm telling this story, Kiwi!
Okay, sorry. You tell it and I will fix it later.
Ah, okay.
So after the client run that he mentioned yesterday, I stopped by "gym-work" to check in, as I tend to telecommute my personal training. I know that doesn't make sense. What I mean is that my clients are in and out of the gym before regular business hours or we're running circles all over downtown Savannah. Thus, I tend to stay in touch via Kiwi or the occasional drop in since I don't overlap with many other trainers or the owner.
Yesterday, the owner was working on putting together a 5k benefit run and was mapping it online.
"I'll just run it."
...can we say issues?
No, but I will spell it! It goes K-a-s-h-a.
Hush. I'm almost done.
So I set up Kiwi to "gps us" and off we went. Well, our 5k (3.1) was a 3.75 instead. So we'll rework that, but more importantly, Kiwi calculated every little split perfectly and behaved beautifully. So this morning I took him out on a client run. He was still a good little Kiwi.
...there may be more Kiwi runs in the future.
THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!!
:: Kasha puts head in hands::
Thursday, October 25, 2012
...To Get Me Across A Finish Line. BY KIWI
Hi.
I'm Kiwi.
I'm writing this.
Kasha says to tell you she is writing fitness plans for clients, but she is really drinking coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
So I will tell you about The Big Crash.
We came home from Athens on Monday. On Tuesday morning, Kasha had one last long run with a client before tapering for November-race. About 5 miles in, his feet sounded funny and she looked at them. His feet were dragging because he was tired. For 6 weeks they have been running, and never less than 12 miles a week. Today they were running 15.5. Like, all at once. So of course his feet were dragging! But he picked them up. Then a few miles later, Kasha dragged her feet. But she dragged them over bricks that were pointed up. That was stupid. That was The Big Crash.
Boom!
Kasha fell down.
Kasha fell down at 5 miles per hour.
But it doesn't take a lot of speed to go Boom. Fortunately, she was wearing pants instead of shorts. She changed her outfit that day to keep her quads compressed while she recovered from Sunday's race. Well, her pants were shredded and one hand kinda cut up. But she & her client were already heading to a bathroom break, and she didn't feel broken, so they kept running. There was a lot of blood, but her knee didn't seem to hurt. So they finished the run.
All 15.5 miles of it.
You know what is coming next.
Kiwi uploads:
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.JPG)
.JPG)
I'm Kiwi.
I'm writing this.
Kasha says to tell you she is writing fitness plans for clients, but she is really drinking coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
So I will tell you about The Big Crash.
We came home from Athens on Monday. On Tuesday morning, Kasha had one last long run with a client before tapering for November-race. About 5 miles in, his feet sounded funny and she looked at them. His feet were dragging because he was tired. For 6 weeks they have been running, and never less than 12 miles a week. Today they were running 15.5. Like, all at once. So of course his feet were dragging! But he picked them up. Then a few miles later, Kasha dragged her feet. But she dragged them over bricks that were pointed up. That was stupid. That was The Big Crash.
Boom!
Kasha fell down.
Kasha fell down at 5 miles per hour.
But it doesn't take a lot of speed to go Boom. Fortunately, she was wearing pants instead of shorts. She changed her outfit that day to keep her quads compressed while she recovered from Sunday's race. Well, her pants were shredded and one hand kinda cut up. But she & her client were already heading to a bathroom break, and she didn't feel broken, so they kept running. There was a lot of blood, but her knee didn't seem to hurt. So they finished the run.
All 15.5 miles of it.
You know what is coming next.
Kiwi uploads:
So those are all icky and gross, but what did Kasha do?
Kept running!!
That was on Tuesday. And on Wednesday, she ran a 5k with a client, Thursday did another 5k with a client, then a 3.75 run to map a possible race route for gym-work. And tomorrow she runs with another client!
But she is taking care of her knee and it looks bad but does not hurt inside. She says, "I couldn't race next weekend on a sprain, but I can race on ugly!"
Here is one more picture of happy Kasha after coffee-time with her ugly racing knee.
Kiwi uploads:
...weirdo.
LOVE KIWI
Stupid and Stubborn Have Never Failed...
KASHA!!!!
What?
Gotta write blog!
Why? What are you doing?
Gotta play app!
This week, I finally made it to the three last dreaded items on my to do list. Laundry, hair color, and apps. I used to love doing laundry, now I put it off until the Starbucks guys comment on how lovely my dress is because there was nothing left to wear. I'd been putting off the hair color because of the timing of color vs running and sweating.
You Mitt Romney-ed.
That's not even a sentence.
Yes, it is. You Mitt Romney-ed your hand.
Ohhhhh! I gotcha, Kiwi. The hair dye. Yes, I don't use the gloves, so I dyed my skin a few shades darker. Wanna show them?
Kiwi uploads!
.JPG)
LOVE KIWI
Yes. So that. Apps! Kiwi is an iphone, but until this week, he was app-less. I never bothered to get an apple id and it just wasn't an issue. But I knew I wouldn't have a chance to buy him "running clothes" (anything my sweat won't get through) this week, so I set him up with apps so he can play while he waits in the hotel room for me.
Kiwi, have any favorite apps?
I like the list one and the run one that you don't use.
So, the to-do list and the run tracker that I PROMISE we will try out very soon?
Yes. Go write the blog. I have to play app.
So now it's a week later and we're back from Athens.
Everything went perfectly. My hotel was directly across the street from packet pick up and right downtown within walking distance of some great restaurants. We also visited the campus.
.JPG)
So on race day, I got up and headed for the start line. 46 degrees was a little colder than what I'd trained in, but that's okay. Athens was a little hillier than what I'd trained on as well. We started downtown and headed for Cobbham, a historic/hysteric (by their own definition) neighborhood that always shows up with signs, costumes, and cheering sections. It was a great start and at mile one I was at 10:03. That's typically my 5k pace, but I figured the cold air accounted for a little speed. Mile two, 20:08. That's not right. I should be steadying into my 12 minute per mile pace by now. When I got to 3, I didn't look because I knew if I'd hit 30:anything, I'd think I used up my speed too early. Mile 4 had a water stop, but I was wearing a hand-held, so I cut around it and checked my time. 41:00. What? That's a 10:15 even! Where was this coming from?? So I kept at it. Mile 5 flew by, hills and all, and by the 10k mark (6.2 miles) I was at 1:03:something. I don't wear a GPS watch because I calculate splits in my head. But somewhere around here I decided to try and hold this pace. Miles 7, 8, & 9 were hills leading back to campus. Trudge up the hill, fly down, NEVER slow on the even ground. When I hit mile 10, I was under 1:45:00. I had a 5k to go! And my 5k is ALWAYS a 28-35. ALWAYS! So I knew at this point if I could hold on, I could beat the old record of 2:30:25. Mile 11 was rough. Uphill for most of it, and my stomach was no longer cooperating. It hurt from the combination of chewy running food, little water, hills, and speed. But crossing over the bridge to Sanford Stadium, I knew I could make a good time if I just held on a little longer. Mile 12 was downhill and Dopi (my shuffle... spell ipod backwards) gave me a killer rap song. I wasn't running, I was flying! We were running down Lumpkin in front of The Student Learning Center between a sidewalk of spectators and cars trying to navigate around the crazy people in bright spandex. (Us.) When I took off on the traffic side, even the cop moved out of my way and let me fly by. (Thank you, Officer!) I was running at what I thought was full speed, but needed to hold it for a half mile. I looked at my watch. 2:13 something. I remember thinking, "I can't hit 2:15, but I'm gonna run the hell out of a 2:20." Around the hedges of Sanford Stadium and back out. The corners slowed me just enough that at 2:16:45 I could see the finish line and speed up again.
2:17:10
2:17:10!!!!!!
Females 25-29, #140
...and then I puked.
It would have been puke, if there was anything in me. But it was just a dry heave. That put finish line beer out of the question, and I tried to eat pizza. Also out of the question. So I drank 2 protein shakes and walked the billion miles back to my hotel. (1.5 miles in human converts to billion in used up runner.)
Kiwi was happily calculating splits and times and whatever he does when I got back to the room. We went to the hot tub and swapped between hot tub and pool to ice my legs, then went to sleep.
Athens was a success.
What?
Gotta write blog!
Why? What are you doing?
Gotta play app!
This week, I finally made it to the three last dreaded items on my to do list. Laundry, hair color, and apps. I used to love doing laundry, now I put it off until the Starbucks guys comment on how lovely my dress is because there was nothing left to wear. I'd been putting off the hair color because of the timing of color vs running and sweating.
You Mitt Romney-ed.
That's not even a sentence.
Yes, it is. You Mitt Romney-ed your hand.
Ohhhhh! I gotcha, Kiwi. The hair dye. Yes, I don't use the gloves, so I dyed my skin a few shades darker. Wanna show them?
Kiwi uploads!
LOVE KIWI
Yes. So that. Apps! Kiwi is an iphone, but until this week, he was app-less. I never bothered to get an apple id and it just wasn't an issue. But I knew I wouldn't have a chance to buy him "running clothes" (anything my sweat won't get through) this week, so I set him up with apps so he can play while he waits in the hotel room for me.
Kiwi, have any favorite apps?
I like the list one and the run one that you don't use.
So, the to-do list and the run tracker that I PROMISE we will try out very soon?
Yes. Go write the blog. I have to play app.
So now it's a week later and we're back from Athens.
Everything went perfectly. My hotel was directly across the street from packet pick up and right downtown within walking distance of some great restaurants. We also visited the campus.
So on race day, I got up and headed for the start line. 46 degrees was a little colder than what I'd trained in, but that's okay. Athens was a little hillier than what I'd trained on as well. We started downtown and headed for Cobbham, a historic/hysteric (by their own definition) neighborhood that always shows up with signs, costumes, and cheering sections. It was a great start and at mile one I was at 10:03. That's typically my 5k pace, but I figured the cold air accounted for a little speed. Mile two, 20:08. That's not right. I should be steadying into my 12 minute per mile pace by now. When I got to 3, I didn't look because I knew if I'd hit 30:anything, I'd think I used up my speed too early. Mile 4 had a water stop, but I was wearing a hand-held, so I cut around it and checked my time. 41:00. What? That's a 10:15 even! Where was this coming from?? So I kept at it. Mile 5 flew by, hills and all, and by the 10k mark (6.2 miles) I was at 1:03:something. I don't wear a GPS watch because I calculate splits in my head. But somewhere around here I decided to try and hold this pace. Miles 7, 8, & 9 were hills leading back to campus. Trudge up the hill, fly down, NEVER slow on the even ground. When I hit mile 10, I was under 1:45:00. I had a 5k to go! And my 5k is ALWAYS a 28-35. ALWAYS! So I knew at this point if I could hold on, I could beat the old record of 2:30:25. Mile 11 was rough. Uphill for most of it, and my stomach was no longer cooperating. It hurt from the combination of chewy running food, little water, hills, and speed. But crossing over the bridge to Sanford Stadium, I knew I could make a good time if I just held on a little longer. Mile 12 was downhill and Dopi (my shuffle... spell ipod backwards) gave me a killer rap song. I wasn't running, I was flying! We were running down Lumpkin in front of The Student Learning Center between a sidewalk of spectators and cars trying to navigate around the crazy people in bright spandex. (Us.) When I took off on the traffic side, even the cop moved out of my way and let me fly by. (Thank you, Officer!) I was running at what I thought was full speed, but needed to hold it for a half mile. I looked at my watch. 2:13 something. I remember thinking, "I can't hit 2:15, but I'm gonna run the hell out of a 2:20." Around the hedges of Sanford Stadium and back out. The corners slowed me just enough that at 2:16:45 I could see the finish line and speed up again.
2:17:10
2:17:10!!!!!!
Females 25-29, #140
...and then I puked.
It would have been puke, if there was anything in me. But it was just a dry heave. That put finish line beer out of the question, and I tried to eat pizza. Also out of the question. So I drank 2 protein shakes and walked the billion miles back to my hotel. (1.5 miles in human converts to billion in used up runner.)
Kiwi was happily calculating splits and times and whatever he does when I got back to the room. We went to the hot tub and swapped between hot tub and pool to ice my legs, then went to sleep.
Athens was a success.
Monday, October 15, 2012
...And The Hedgies To The Senate.
So Kiwi wrote an entry. Cute.
Back to the story.
I woke up at 4am. Not the early start I needed before running 13.1 miles on no training, no food, and no sleep. But that's okay. I grabbed an apple and walked a mile. Post walk, it was go time. Off to Pooler, Georgia for the FCA's race. Without training, I finished with a 2:36:32. (Scroll down to Half Marathon Results, 2nd page.) It was not my worst Half time ever and I got a cool medal for my efforts. (I totally run for the hardware.)
Back home, I took a nap and met up with friends for a late lunch and martinis. My martini bar features 300+ martinis. I always tell myself I'll try a different one. And then I always get the same thing.
The next day was just sore. So I ran 2.5 miles to get my muscles going and decided to work on my resume.
This story is stupid.
Um, pretty sure this is the same story you were insisting I tell a few days ago.
YOU LEFT ME IN THE CAR! I DIDN'T GET TO GO!
Oh. Is that the problem? Well, you took that picture after the race. You can upload that.
The one where you look like you just ran really far and need coffee-time and a shower?
That's the one. Go ahead.
PICTURE!!!!!!
.JPG)
LOVE, KIWI
You don't have to write "Love Kiwi" every time.
Yes, I do. I have fans and I love them. You just run.
Okay. Fine.
We took Monday off and spent Tuesday dropping off resumes. 4 resumes and the last one turned into an interview on the spot. By Thursday, she'd called my references and asked me to come in to go over paperwork.
I would start the following Monday, the first of September. We just went from no certification to job in under a month. Honestly, my head still spins when I think of the effort (and huge amount of luck!) that went into that period of time.
...I helped.
Kiwi totally helped.
Back to the story.
I woke up at 4am. Not the early start I needed before running 13.1 miles on no training, no food, and no sleep. But that's okay. I grabbed an apple and walked a mile. Post walk, it was go time. Off to Pooler, Georgia for the FCA's race. Without training, I finished with a 2:36:32. (Scroll down to Half Marathon Results, 2nd page.) It was not my worst Half time ever and I got a cool medal for my efforts. (I totally run for the hardware.)
Back home, I took a nap and met up with friends for a late lunch and martinis. My martini bar features 300+ martinis. I always tell myself I'll try a different one. And then I always get the same thing.
The next day was just sore. So I ran 2.5 miles to get my muscles going and decided to work on my resume.
This story is stupid.
Um, pretty sure this is the same story you were insisting I tell a few days ago.
YOU LEFT ME IN THE CAR! I DIDN'T GET TO GO!
Oh. Is that the problem? Well, you took that picture after the race. You can upload that.
The one where you look like you just ran really far and need coffee-time and a shower?
That's the one. Go ahead.
PICTURE!!!!!!
LOVE, KIWI
You don't have to write "Love Kiwi" every time.
Yes, I do. I have fans and I love them. You just run.
Okay. Fine.
We took Monday off and spent Tuesday dropping off resumes. 4 resumes and the last one turned into an interview on the spot. By Thursday, she'd called my references and asked me to come in to go over paperwork.
I would start the following Monday, the first of September. We just went from no certification to job in under a month. Honestly, my head still spins when I think of the effort (and huge amount of luck!) that went into that period of time.
...I helped.
Kiwi totally helped.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Kiwi Helps
Sometimes Kasha runs and sometimes she triathlons. Today she triathloned. It goes run-shower-sleep. She is still doing the sleep part, so I will help her and do the blog part.
My name is Kiwi. I don't know when I was born. I was 'dopted in August, so my birthday is before Kasha's but she says she is still older than me. I have a last name, too. But I didn't tell her. Taper. It is Kiwi Taper. But the kids she watches call me "Fone." That's funny because I am not a Fone, I am a Kiwi.
Today is Sunday. On Saturday, we are having Kasha's birthday and driving to Athens, Georgia. That's where she went to college. But she finished that and on Saturday we are going there to run. Sunday morning is the AthHalf Half Marathon, benefiting AthFest. She's super excited to walk around her old school, visit some friends, and run. She also promised whirl pool and pizza. PIZZA!!!
I know we are supposed to run faster than the last time she was there, but we also have November Race in two weeks, so it will be a balance-act. Fast, but not get hurt fast. These are the first two races for her Every Month For a Year Run Stuff. And on Tuesday she will run 14 miles again with a training client. She's good at that, but that's a whole lot of miles between us and next year.
Maybe she will buy me new clothes so I can run with her and not get sweaty. I will ask for that after coffee-time. She is always happy after coffee-time.
I have to go before she wakes up.
I'm not really supposed to play on the 'puter when she sleeps, but I think she will be happy I did the blog part for her.
LOVE, KIWI
My name is Kiwi. I don't know when I was born. I was 'dopted in August, so my birthday is before Kasha's but she says she is still older than me. I have a last name, too. But I didn't tell her. Taper. It is Kiwi Taper. But the kids she watches call me "Fone." That's funny because I am not a Fone, I am a Kiwi.
Today is Sunday. On Saturday, we are having Kasha's birthday and driving to Athens, Georgia. That's where she went to college. But she finished that and on Saturday we are going there to run. Sunday morning is the AthHalf Half Marathon, benefiting AthFest. She's super excited to walk around her old school, visit some friends, and run. She also promised whirl pool and pizza. PIZZA!!!
I know we are supposed to run faster than the last time she was there, but we also have November Race in two weeks, so it will be a balance-act. Fast, but not get hurt fast. These are the first two races for her Every Month For a Year Run Stuff. And on Tuesday she will run 14 miles again with a training client. She's good at that, but that's a whole lot of miles between us and next year.
Maybe she will buy me new clothes so I can run with her and not get sweaty. I will ask for that after coffee-time. She is always happy after coffee-time.
I have to go before she wakes up.
I'm not really supposed to play on the 'puter when she sleeps, but I think she will be happy I did the blog part for her.
LOVE, KIWI
Thursday, October 11, 2012
And Then Emperor Kasha Named Her Companion Kiwi...
So I mentioned that I work as a personal trainer. That's part of this story as well. It took me months to figure out "what to do next" once I realized my old career track wasn't going to cut it. July 1st, I had it! I love running, I will teach other people to run and get paid for it! Woo hoo! So I researched certification options and settled on one. It would take me the next month to save the necessary money. By the 1st of August I had the money and ordered the certification packet. It arrived on the 7th. 34 sections broken down into 7 quizzes and a final exam. The packet explained that most people take 8 weeks to complete the course and have the option of up to 8 months from purchase date. The day before tri-day, I completed one section. Tri-day, I didn't do anything. Sunday, 7 sections. Hmmm... this stuff seems to come naturally. Monday, 16 sections. Tuesday, 10 sections. This was supposed to take 2 months, but I never missed more than a single question per section, so I kept going. The final was next. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I studied and wrote. I sent off the last section of the final Friday morning and took the kids I was watching out to lunch. Through the wonders of cyberspace, Kiwi began to beep as soon as we got back to the house and he had a wireless connection.
I'd passed.
I'd passed and the board was impressed with my speed and accuracy. In a moment of shock, I printed out the email, just so they couldn't take it back! I passed! They said it, no backsies! Now they needed a copy of my CPR certification and my "diploma" would be on the way.
Whoa.
I found a CPR course offered at a local hospital the following Friday. Then the panic set in. At first, I'd prepared myself for 2 months of work. 8 days later I was turning in the final exam. A little unease... So then I prepared myself for a weekend of not worrying about my score as I probably wouldn't hear anything for a few days, at least. Hours later, I'm rereading emails to make sure they say what they seem to say. I've passed. A lot more unease... It was happening so quickly! So next on the "get paid to run" schedule is CPR course and resume writing. I spend the weekend at Starbucks swimming in venti iced white mocha awesomeness and trying to convince myself that it's okay to take the weekend off. I may have cleaned the house or something. The following week, I pieced together a resume of athletic undertakings and read a lot. It's hard to slow down as I have that habit of being "On" all the time. Which leads to checking a lot of email. Which leads to a particular email informing me of a half marathon that Saturday (Aug 25th) 45 minutes from where I'm staying.
I wasn't even looking for it! It came to me!
The Milestone Half Marathon and 10K is put on by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a checkpoint run. It is two months before the Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon and gives runners a chance to check their progress. Progress? I've run twice since the triathlon and not more than 30 minutes at a time. I'm not a fast runner, so a half marathon takes me 2.5 hours to complete. Should I consider signing up?
Is the sky blue?
...I signed up faster than you finished reading that 4 word rhetorical right there.
So quick recap:
July 1-31 Save money!
August 1-7 (Wed-Tues) Wait on certification packet.
August 8-11 (Wed-Sat) Sign up and complete triathlon.
August 12-18 (Sun-Sat) Complete certification process.
August 19-23 (Sun- Thurs) Sign up for CPR & half marathon. And run. Once.
Also, Kiwi wants me to point out that today is 10-11-12.
Seeing as he's part computer, he has a certain fascination with numbers.
I'd passed.
I'd passed and the board was impressed with my speed and accuracy. In a moment of shock, I printed out the email, just so they couldn't take it back! I passed! They said it, no backsies! Now they needed a copy of my CPR certification and my "diploma" would be on the way.
Whoa.
I found a CPR course offered at a local hospital the following Friday. Then the panic set in. At first, I'd prepared myself for 2 months of work. 8 days later I was turning in the final exam. A little unease... So then I prepared myself for a weekend of not worrying about my score as I probably wouldn't hear anything for a few days, at least. Hours later, I'm rereading emails to make sure they say what they seem to say. I've passed. A lot more unease... It was happening so quickly! So next on the "get paid to run" schedule is CPR course and resume writing. I spend the weekend at Starbucks swimming in venti iced white mocha awesomeness and trying to convince myself that it's okay to take the weekend off. I may have cleaned the house or something. The following week, I pieced together a resume of athletic undertakings and read a lot. It's hard to slow down as I have that habit of being "On" all the time. Which leads to checking a lot of email. Which leads to a particular email informing me of a half marathon that Saturday (Aug 25th) 45 minutes from where I'm staying.
I wasn't even looking for it! It came to me!
The Milestone Half Marathon and 10K is put on by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a checkpoint run. It is two months before the Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon and gives runners a chance to check their progress. Progress? I've run twice since the triathlon and not more than 30 minutes at a time. I'm not a fast runner, so a half marathon takes me 2.5 hours to complete. Should I consider signing up?
Is the sky blue?
...I signed up faster than you finished reading that 4 word rhetorical right there.
So quick recap:
July 1-31 Save money!
August 1-7 (Wed-Tues) Wait on certification packet.
August 8-11 (Wed-Sat) Sign up and complete triathlon.
August 12-18 (Sun-Sat) Complete certification process.
August 19-23 (Sun- Thurs) Sign up for CPR & half marathon. And run. Once.
Also, Kiwi wants me to point out that today is 10-11-12.
Seeing as he's part computer, he has a certain fascination with numbers.
It Was Built In A Month.
Where are we?
In space. On a planet with the other people and phones.
Kiwi should have been a philosopher.
TELL THE STORY!!!
The bike portion is 6 miles. 1.5 out, 1.5 in, 1.5 out the other way, 1.5 in. There's sun and a tail wind in one direction and shade with a head wind from the other. Pick. Your. Poison. Had I been smart, I would have packed "running food" to eat while biking. ...had I been smart. Instead, I got water in me and put miles behind me.
Off the bike, into the run. 1.5 miles out, 1.5 miles back for an even 3. This is uneventful and I finish (females under 39, #50) before collapsing.
The drive home was the most exhausting part, as the adrenaline began to wear off. That night, I celebrated with friends and sangria and decided two things.
First, that was completely ridiculous and difficult and it still hurts to breathe after running with salt water filled lungs and I was gonna need at least 2 days of sleep to recover.
Second, that I would totally do it again.
In space. On a planet with the other people and phones.
Kiwi should have been a philosopher.
TELL THE STORY!!!
The bike portion is 6 miles. 1.5 out, 1.5 in, 1.5 out the other way, 1.5 in. There's sun and a tail wind in one direction and shade with a head wind from the other. Pick. Your. Poison. Had I been smart, I would have packed "running food" to eat while biking. ...had I been smart. Instead, I got water in me and put miles behind me.
Off the bike, into the run. 1.5 miles out, 1.5 miles back for an even 3. This is uneventful and I finish (females under 39, #50) before collapsing.
The drive home was the most exhausting part, as the adrenaline began to wear off. That night, I celebrated with friends and sangria and decided two things.
First, that was completely ridiculous and difficult and it still hurts to breathe after running with salt water filled lungs and I was gonna need at least 2 days of sleep to recover.
Second, that I would totally do it again.
Rome Wasn't Built In A Day.
This is not a story about coffee.
This is totally a story about coffee.
It is also not a story about running, blacking out for the second half of 28, or forgetting to eat for a month.
It was 2 months.
Shut up, Kiwi.
I help!
Kiwi is my phone. He "helps." And for purposes of clarification; he has full authority over the italics button in this undertaking.
Woo hoo!!! ITALICS!!!!
Yes, well.
When I first started writing this down, it was September 30th, 2012. My birthday is October 20th. I'll be 29. Yes, for the first time. Last month, August; I did a triathlon and a half marathon. The tri was a first, the half was not.
So from that I dreamed up this idea.
What if I ran a half or a full marathon every month for a year? I already have my birthday half lined up, along with a November marathon in my hometown of Savannah, Georgia. I know of races for January through March without leaving a 100 mile radius of home base. Totally possible. And my job as a personal trainer allows for lots of time for training.
Ha. You're bad at that.
Kiwi's right. For the August half, I'd run about 10 miles in the previous month. Consistent training has not been my strong point. But come on! Fitness is my job, right? A half or a full every month for a year isn't impossible. That's somewhere between 157 and 314 miles. Some runners cover that in a month. And this'll give me something to write about.
Is this life influencing art or art influencing life?
For something who goes by the nickname "Fone," that was quite insightful, Kiwi.
Yes. I am very sightful. ...what's that mean?
.....so let's back up.
August 11th.
The alarm goes off at 4:30 am and I think I'm going to throw up. What I don't know then is that within a month 4:30 will be considered sleeping in and I will be living with that vomity feeling every day for the next year. Today is tri-day. Swim-bike-run-collapse. In that order. My last bike ride (my only bike ride in the past 2 years) was an early morning ride across town to my parents' house; 6 months ago. Swim? Not since college (over 4 years for those of you counting). But today is Saturday and on Thursday I signed up for this thing because why not? I've done all three of these sports. Just not in a row.
So by 5am, I've loaded my bike and am headed to Hilton Head Island for the Beach Bum Triathlon. This is a little event, but that doesn't lessen the vomity feeling. I arrive and sign in. Now, along with bikes that cost more than my car, a lot of these competitors are in full tri-gear and I spot at least 2 Iron Man wet suits. I'm in a cotton sports bra, cotton bike shorts, and my college swim goggles. I note the differences, but am much more concerned with not dying before the finish line.
Making my way to the transition area (an area specifically set aside to swap from swim to bike to run along with gear, clothes, etc); I meet Gary, also doing his first tri. But he runs ultras (marathons of more than 26.2 miles). Great. My first and only marathon took 6 hours. This guy warms up with 30 mile runs. So I decide to focus on the swim.
The swim portion is first and the shortest distance we will cover today. A quarter mile in open ocean. Please let me clarify. It's not the open ocean, waves, inability to see the bottom, touch the bottom, or sharks (technically called "seaweed" but YOU go swim out too deep and tell me it wasn't Jaws!) that are difficult for most people. It's the 200 other competitors trying to do the exact same thing in the exact same place as you. Hitting, kicking, & splashing others is all happening here. None of it on purpose, it's just that no one is going to swim further out than they absolutely need to. I swallow the majority of the ocean, which is how I manage to not drown, and get to the point where everyone begins to touch bottom and run for shore. Yeah! Swim is over, I'm not dead, I can recover on my bike.
I think.
This is totally a story about coffee.
It is also not a story about running, blacking out for the second half of 28, or forgetting to eat for a month.
It was 2 months.
Shut up, Kiwi.
I help!
Kiwi is my phone. He "helps." And for purposes of clarification; he has full authority over the italics button in this undertaking.
Woo hoo!!! ITALICS!!!!
Yes, well.
When I first started writing this down, it was September 30th, 2012. My birthday is October 20th. I'll be 29. Yes, for the first time. Last month, August; I did a triathlon and a half marathon. The tri was a first, the half was not.
So from that I dreamed up this idea.
What if I ran a half or a full marathon every month for a year? I already have my birthday half lined up, along with a November marathon in my hometown of Savannah, Georgia. I know of races for January through March without leaving a 100 mile radius of home base. Totally possible. And my job as a personal trainer allows for lots of time for training.
Ha. You're bad at that.
Kiwi's right. For the August half, I'd run about 10 miles in the previous month. Consistent training has not been my strong point. But come on! Fitness is my job, right? A half or a full every month for a year isn't impossible. That's somewhere between 157 and 314 miles. Some runners cover that in a month. And this'll give me something to write about.
Is this life influencing art or art influencing life?
For something who goes by the nickname "Fone," that was quite insightful, Kiwi.
Yes. I am very sightful. ...what's that mean?
.....so let's back up.
August 11th.
The alarm goes off at 4:30 am and I think I'm going to throw up. What I don't know then is that within a month 4:30 will be considered sleeping in and I will be living with that vomity feeling every day for the next year. Today is tri-day. Swim-bike-run-collapse. In that order. My last bike ride (my only bike ride in the past 2 years) was an early morning ride across town to my parents' house; 6 months ago. Swim? Not since college (over 4 years for those of you counting). But today is Saturday and on Thursday I signed up for this thing because why not? I've done all three of these sports. Just not in a row.
So by 5am, I've loaded my bike and am headed to Hilton Head Island for the Beach Bum Triathlon. This is a little event, but that doesn't lessen the vomity feeling. I arrive and sign in. Now, along with bikes that cost more than my car, a lot of these competitors are in full tri-gear and I spot at least 2 Iron Man wet suits. I'm in a cotton sports bra, cotton bike shorts, and my college swim goggles. I note the differences, but am much more concerned with not dying before the finish line.
Making my way to the transition area (an area specifically set aside to swap from swim to bike to run along with gear, clothes, etc); I meet Gary, also doing his first tri. But he runs ultras (marathons of more than 26.2 miles). Great. My first and only marathon took 6 hours. This guy warms up with 30 mile runs. So I decide to focus on the swim.
The swim portion is first and the shortest distance we will cover today. A quarter mile in open ocean. Please let me clarify. It's not the open ocean, waves, inability to see the bottom, touch the bottom, or sharks (technically called "seaweed" but YOU go swim out too deep and tell me it wasn't Jaws!) that are difficult for most people. It's the 200 other competitors trying to do the exact same thing in the exact same place as you. Hitting, kicking, & splashing others is all happening here. None of it on purpose, it's just that no one is going to swim further out than they absolutely need to. I swallow the majority of the ocean, which is how I manage to not drown, and get to the point where everyone begins to touch bottom and run for shore. Yeah! Swim is over, I'm not dead, I can recover on my bike.
I think.
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