Running Through Another Year

Four weeks to go until the 25K and my long run last weekend was 11-miles. After feeling so great throughout the 10-mile run the previous weekend, I was hopeful I’d be just as strong this week but with the absence of my running partner, I was apprehensive to go it alone in the dark on the road. So Ram offered to ride his bike and escort me and be my water boy. Sounds simple but I managed to turn that around. Ram has been biking a lot lately and late Friday night noticed he had his second flat in as many weeks. Fresh out of replacement tubes or repair cement, he called up a friend to borrow his bike then called the students he had already asked to come babysit in the morning to confirm he’d come pick them up at 5a.

It was all going well until around mile 6 when Ram noticed he was leaking air fast. Another flat & on his friends bike now too. So he called up one of the two sitters at our house to bring his truck and rescue him while I trudged along. He met me with his truck at a few spots down the road to offer me water which I greatly appreciated because I was seriously hanging by the 9th mile. No sprint at the end of this run but I managed to haul myself in at about 2:08 for the 11 miles. So my little workout this weekend involved 4 additional people I’ll lovingly call my pit crew. It’s so good to have friends and supporters.

Two nights ago I was reading the kids bedtime stories in my bed. When I told them it was time to go to their room, Zeth immediately looked over at his big sister and said, “Vai, go to bed.” As if he belonged there in my bed or and she didn’t. It was too funny. One of his favorite games to play is stealing my spot – be it my chair or pillow – he just likes to set himself down and giggle at me which requires the same exasperated “Hey! That’s my bed!” from me which garners even more giggling.

Today is my 37th birthday. Yay. Ram surprised us and brought home McD’s pancakes for breakfast. We had fun playing with the timer on my camera until we got that perfect shot but the ‘junk’ ones were funnier.

I have received at least one birthday greeting for each year of my life today from friends via facebook. Love facebook for connecting me with so many friends & loved ones from my past. I received a card personally signed by all my friends in the HR Office. …OK, so I guess I don’t have many friends in the HR Office because nobody signed the card but it came with a delicious fresh brownie.

Ram bought me a new iPod Shuffle last weekend and I got it all loaded up with music last night in time for my birthday. Love the simple lightweight nothingness of it compared to my old bulky iPod Mini which has served me faithfully for the past 4-years but now won’t charge no matter how long it’s plugged in.

I went to the gym to fulfill my daily running assignment as prescribed by my personal running coach and mentor Hal Higdon (never actually met the man but I’m taking his word for it on the training & running tips). Got to the locker room and found a happy little flashback to high school days waiting there for me from my very thoughtful friend Kathy. She has been really paying attention during all our running chats lately and attached everything I could ever hope for to get me through my long runs – short of rollerblades or a motorcycle – to my locker door.
Got calls from some of my very favorite people and worked all day. Now it’s family time. Gotta go see what favorite spot of mine Zeth needs to steal from me now.