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
Monday, October 29, 2012
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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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!
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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.
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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!!!!!!
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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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