Road Trip (Redux and Retribution)

We drove down to Hilton Head, South Carolina last week because that is what Northeastern parents on a budget do to torture their children (and themselves) and call it a "vacation".  Families pack up their cars as though they're fleeing a zombie apocalypse or auditioning for "Hoarders", then head south after a cold and lonely winter.  Hilton Head is not the only spring break destination by car.  We drive to Washington, DC or North Carolina or Florida (which luckily or unluckily includes all of the aforementioned places).  We go anywhere south of New Jersey because two degrees difference in temperature is like the difference between Lapland and Honolulu after four months of a New York winter-hell-frozen-over.

We left Saturday around noon.  Pete wanted to drive two full days rather than one straight shot.  This is a bad idea.  Don't do this.  Especially when you have children.  Most especially when you have a smarter spouse telling you otherwise.  Most of the traffic we encountered was at the beginning of our journey on the Belt Parkway, Staten Island Expressway, and New Jersey Turnpike.  If there is a road to hell, I imagine it would look like any New York City highway.  There is always traffic, there is always construction, they are riddled with potholes (probably the shortcut to the ultimate, fiery "destination"), and there's always some asshole doing some assholey thing to make the experience even more miserable than you thought possible.  We were supposed to stay in Stafford, Virginia the first night, but never made it.  We got to Fredericksburg by 8pm and were toast by then.  The children and I were hungry and tired and were on the verge of mutiny if he did not stop the car and let us out at once.

There was no way I was going to get a run in.   From the superficial looks of it,  Fredericksburg didn't seem like a running city.  I was too tired to investigate further.  After spending eight tortuous hours in the car, the last thing I wanted to do was torture myself again on the treadmill.

The next day we set out for Bluffton, South Carolina.  Bluffton is basically across the bridge from Hilton Head.  Why we didn't leave a day later and just eliminate Bluffton from the equation is beyond me.  Don't ask.  Or better yet, do ask Mr. I Should Never Be In Charge of Planning Anything Other Than A Kegger.  Sunday was basically Saturday Redux.

What are eight hours in a car with four children and two "adults" (I use this term loosely) like, you ask?  For starters, each child has to use the bathroom at different times, usually right after one of them has just gone, they've "buckled" (I use this term loosely, as well) themselves in, and we merge back onto the highway.  As soon as we're up to highway speed, the next one has to go.  Immediately.  There's no, "I can hold it."  It's always, "I have to go.  Now!  Hurry!  I'm starting to go in my pants...!"  And that's just my 13-year old (Ha ha, just kidding, Sanibel.  That's a little retribution for picking on the little ones during the trip.  Heh heh).  Of course, we ask them each time, who else has to go?  Sometimes we even take them against their will and sit them on the toilets to no avail.  They go when they want, and you don't.

I mentioned seat belts.  Seat belts are optional in their minds.  We buckle them in whenever we get in the car.  At some point during the trip, usually when we're doing 85mph, I'll turn around and see my kids' rendition of Cirque du Soleil in the back of our Ford Expedition.  My 13-year old is laying down as though she's at home on the couch, my 8-year old is undressed down to his boxers sitting upside down on his head, my 5-year old is climbing over a seat so as not to get crushed by the 13-year old, and the baby is climbing on top of the luggage in the trunk.  We do not pull over because we want to get where we're going as fast as we can.  Probably not the prudent choice.  Instead, we yell and threaten them with electronic device withdrawal (because that is what they love more than life itself) until finally compliance.  Twenty minutes later, it's the same scenario.  Redux.

Then there's the matter of "getting along".    I come from a small family, just my older brother and me.  I always wanted to have a lot of kids.  I thought, the more the merrier!  That's what I was taught by the Bradys and the Partidges.  The Bradys even drove to the Grand Canyon without so much as a slap in the face.  Well, I think they wound up in jail and someone got lost, but they still loved each other by the end of the episode.  My children, unfortunately have never seen these shows, so they have no idea how to get along 70s style.  Someone is either hitting or being hit, crying or making someone else cry, screaming or being screamed at, insulting or being insulted.  And that's just their father!  (Ha ha, just kidding Pete.  That's a little retribution for making us sit in the car for 8,000 hours.  Heh heh)

We arrived in Bluffton Sunday night around 8.  There was no way I was going to get a run in.  Ten miler was going to have to wait until Monday.  I'm exhausted just typing this.  My week of running in Hilton Head will be continued tomorrow...

The picture at the top is the only car photo that exists from this trip.  It was taken in Washington, DC on our way home.  We drove almost ten hours, double the predicted GPS time, to get home after this was taken.  Those clueless smiles on our faces quickly turned upside down.  Permanently.  For the same reasons stated above.  It was another Redux car trip.  Thankfully, for legal reasons, no other pictures exist.


(Oh wait.  You don't see a picture at the top of this post?  I tried to upload one, but my evil laptop told me that the startup disk was full and I should delete files.  I did as I was told.  I clicked on what I thought were blank files.  Now I've lost all access to any Word documents and possibly all of my iPhotos.  And the startup disk is still full.  Hating everything right now.  Could this be retribution?  Not funny.)

Hilton Head Running

Monday (4/6/15)- 9.721 miles, 1:22:45, 8:31 pace - We finally arrived at our Marriott Grande Ocean timeshare early Monday afternoon.  I was desperate to get my run in so I flew out the door as soon as the kids were lathered in sun block and ready for some pool time with their father.  I wanted to run through Sea Pines, which is a beautiful, private community just down the road from where we were staying.  The security guard would not let me through the gate without our pass which I left back in the villa.  I turned right on Cordillo Drive and decided to run 5 miles someplace and then turn around.  The temperature was in the mid-70s which was almost too hot, but not quite.  It just took some getting used to.  I had two "bathroom" (translation: thick brush) stops because that is what I do.  When I came back around to our resort, I knew I was just shy of the ten I had planned on.  However, Mother Nature and I still had some business to take care of and that was the end of that.

Tuesday (4/7/15) - 8.18 miles, 1:11:39,  8:45 pace - I headed in a different direction this time down Interstate 278.  Although I was running on a busy four lane road, the bike path makes it easily accessible for runners.  My absolute favorite aspect of Hilton Head is the bike path.  It goes throughout the entire island which is perfect for runners, walkers, bikers, and anyone else who just prefers not to be sitting in a car.  I turned around at four miles and headed back to the villa.

Wednesday (4/8/15) - 5.1 miles, 41:54, 8:13 pace - Sanibel and I went to the gym on the Marriott property.  It is located on the fourth floor so the view from the treadmill is the beach.  I thought I should run a handful of 400s since my half marathon is the following week.  It was challenging considering I can't even remember the last time I did speed work.  February?  

Thursday (4/9/15) - 3.5 miles, 29:59, 8:34 pace - Another gym workout with my daughter.  Another "cleanse" run.

Friday (4/10/15) - No running.  Instead, we rode bikes on the beach which was very cool.

Saturday (4/11/15) - 5.17 miles,  43:52, 8:39 pace - I got my run in before checkout.  I took the Sea Pines pass with me and went through the security gate.  I love running through here because the beautiful homes are tucked away behind gorgeous trees and greenery.  The temperature was cool and there was some light rain and mist.

Weekly Mileage - 31.7

Monday (4/13/15) - 12.01 miles, 1:37:46, 8:08 pace - I didn't run over the weekend because I was too busy plotting a coup in our Ford Explorer on I-95.  I headed over to the Massapequa Preserve at 11:30am.  The temperature was 60 degrees, but I still opted for shorts and a tech shirt.  I ran 6 miles north and then turned around.  I felt good until Mile 9.  My hip started to bother me to the point where I had to stop and walk for a minute.  I wasn't sure if I should run the remainder of the distance, but I really didn't want to walk because I have no patience for walking when I can run.  I started up again.  It wasn't too bad, but not too good either.  I finished the run, but when I got home the pain got progressively worse.  I could barely walk.  I iced it last night and today.  I even took an Advil this afternoon which I never do, but I really don't want to miss the race on Sunday.  Fingers crossed.

Baby Girl and 2016 Presidential Candidate,

Me,

 on the balcony of our villa

RS  doing her best Mommy imitation.

Very accurate.

You remember these, right?  Seesaws, the

ultimate playground toy that tested how much

you really trusted the kid on the bottom

not to get up and walk away and plummet

you to butt trauma for the rest of the afternoon.

Beach biking boogie.

Hold on, kiddo, while I try to dodge the sunbathers...

or aim for them...

And finally the one car photo I couldn't upload 

to the road trip from hell post.

Hilton Head Island

I got up early this morning and ran 3.4 miles to the Cross Island Parkway Bridge and back to the hotel, a total of 6.84 miles.  Surprisingly, there weren't a lot of runners out on the bike/pedestrian path.  The path is alongside the road, but parts are hidden by palm trees and bushes so you don't feel like you're on top of the traffic.  It's very pretty.  I wish there were these paths everywhere.

I used the Map My Run app again.  I made a "pit stop" and wasn't sure how to pause the activity.  I wound up recording two separate runs.  Annoying.  It's also a pain to stop and resume the app when taking pictures.  I decided it's good for assessing the mileage on new routes, but I won't be using it on my regular runs.  I want to just run without worrying about technology.

Interesting sign about the area

Reeeally interesting sign about the area

When I returned, the family rented bikes.  Pete had a trailer attached to his for the two little girls, Sana had her own bike, and Santos and I rode tandem.  We decided to get something to eat in the Sea Pines area at the end of the island.  We biked 10.66 miles total.  It was worth it.  The Salty Dog restaurant had fantastic fresh fish and the outdoor seating on the water was perfect with all the kids.  We also saw three alligators.  I was surprisingly calm.  

Different Race, Same Distance

I signed up for the South Shore 5k in Oceanside on March 9.  I was going to run a race while on vacation, either in Charleston or Hilton Head Island for the month of March.  A race on Long Island close to home is nice and easy.    Subjecting my children to all the tedious logistics that are inevitable with a destination race while they're supposed to be on vacation too just seems unfair.  There are no other commitments the morning of the 9th that would interfere either.  It is meant to be.  Plus, this race is raising money for the Little League teams that were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

This morning I did 5 miles and the temperature was almost 50 degrees!  I can smell Spring right around the corner.  I'm still running blind (Day Seven of Pink Eye) and somewhat deaf (Eminem must always be cranked up)...

2015 Year In Review

This year I got back in the game. 2014 was mostly disappointing as far as running was concerned. Even though I ran my favorite race ever (I'm talkin' 'bout you, Boston!), my times suffered. I was unmotivated and over trained by the time Patriot's Day came along. I spent the rest of that year running with no real goals other than just to run, which was both liberating and unsatisfying.

January of 2015 I ran my first race since the Brooklyn Half in May of 2014. I had signed up months earlier for the Sayville Run to the Brewery. I signed up only because it seemed like the thing to do at the time (Something I'll do again months later for the Army Ten Miler. Oops, again). This is an extremely popular ten mile race on Long Island that sells out in minutes. I think Freighbor reminded me the day of registration so I logged on and unexpectedly got in.  Fast forward to January and ta-da, race day arrived. I hadn't trained at all for the race and it turned out to be colder than Arendelle during one of Elsa's tantrums. Considering the circumstances, I was pleased with my result.

February, March, and April came and went, I ran in a lot of snow, over the Williamsburg Bridge, and among alligators in Hilton Head. Then in May I found out I got into the St. George Marathon! Cool! I had been working on building my base up to 40 miles per week. I was ready to get back on track (both figuratively and literally). I chose the Hanson Marathon Method as my program and was looking forward to a nice PR come October. Over the summer I ran in Santa Fe, Pittsburgh (Go Steelers!) and Canada for the first time (Separate trips, of course). I even ran the streets of Manhattan without forking over any moola to the New York Road Runners.

The Hanson program kicked my arse, but I loved the challenge. I loved having a strict schedule and running six days a week. I didn't love not racing. It was strange not knowing whether or not I was getting faster.

I unexpectedly ran another 24 hour 200 mile relay race in September and then finally the marathon! I didn't run sub-3:30 as I'd hoped, but it was a beautiful, deceivingly challenging course and I PR'd and BQ'd for the third time around. Not too shabby. I'll take it.

I took it easy for the rest of October. When November arrived, I decided to start building again. I recruited a bunch of fellow runners to do the Runner's World Holiday Streak with me. And here it is, New Year's Day which included the now annual Hangover Run with my two favs, The Petite Pacer (TPP) and The Emerging Runner. What better way to start the year! We ran five loops in Eisenhower Park with about 400 others and then warmed up at Starbucks where we exchanged holiday gifts and sweet nothings.

...so happy together...

me and you and TPP...

the only one for TPP is you and me and TPP,

so happy together...

Sunday (12/13/15) - 1 mile, 9:00 pace with Sanibel

Monday (12/14/15) - 8 miles, 1:07:17, 8:25 pace

Tuesday (12/15/15) - 6.2 miles, 51:49, 8:21 pace

Wednesday (12/16/15) - 5.92 miles, 49:55, 8:26 pace

Thursday (12/17/15) - 6.02 miles, 51:37, 8:34 pace

Friday (12/18/15) - 7 miles, 1:01:19, 8:46 pace

Saturday (12/19/15) - 6.1 miles, 52:40, 8:38 pace

Sunday (12/20/15) - 1 mile with the 4-year old and 6-year old. As in, they both ran. As in, the 4-year old ran like the Energizer Bunny!

Monday (12/21/15) - 8 miles, 1:11:23, 8:55 pace

Tuesday (12/22/15) - 8 miles, 1:09:46, 8:43 pace

Wednesday (12/23/15) - 6 miles

Thursday (12/24/15) - 4.13 miles, 35:21, 8:34 pace

Friday (12/25/15) - 1 mile with the 4-year old again. This time she stopped a couple of times for a breather, but she recovered quickly and sprinted home for the win!

Saturday (12/26/15) - 10.24 miles, 1:29:46, 8:46 pace

Sunday (12/27/15) - 2.07 miles, 20:15, 9:47 pace with The Kid on his bike.

Monday (12/28/15) - 8.01 miles, 1:07:19, 8:24 pace

Tuesday (12/29/15) - 5.02 miles, 42:35, 8:29 pace

Wednesday (12/30/15) - 7.02 miles, 1:00:17, 8:35 pace

Thursday (12/31/15) - 6.3 miles, 54:59, 8:44 pace

2015 Total Mileage - 1,762 miles - The most miles I have ever run in a year to date. Twenty miles more than 2013. Bring it on, 2016!

Friday (1/1/16) - 5.02 miles, 43:04, 8:35 pace

                                    

5 And (Maybe Not) 10

Another day off yesterday.  I don't like taking two days off in a row, but it was too complicated to work out the runs with Pete gone.  I was able to catch up on much needed sleep though.

I did 5 miles this morning in 28 degrees (he's back).  There was light snow again last night.  I took it slow (the more consecutive days I take off, the stiffer I feel) and enjoyed the beautiful morning.  I was thinking that I might not be ready for this 10 miler in two weeks.  My mileage has been somewhat low and I haven't run 10 miles since January 5 - yikes!  The 10 miler I ran last year in Long Beach was right off of a half marathon.  I PR'd and felt great.  I don't see this being a repeat performance.

I'm looking for a March race.  We will be driving down to Florida (Oh Lordy).  I found a 5k in Charleston on the way down and one on Hilton Head Island Easter Saturday.

And yes, Blog did have another makeover.  Thank you for noticing.  I tried to add some photos, but apparently Hawaiian palm trees and the Pacific Ocean were inappropriate for a NYC Marathon themed blog.  Whatever.  Until I figure out how to resize my Brooklyn Bridge photo, this is what we have.  I like it.  Do you?

Santa Fe Running

I am not a fan of Long Island living.  I don't like the traffic.  The malls are too crowded.  The suburbs are...well, the suburbs.  Did I mention the traffic?  The one thing I do like about this island of Long is the lack of predators.  I am referring to the non-human predators, the human ones are still out there (Am I the only one who is concerned that the Long Island serial killer has not been caught?  In fact, I think I know someone who might be dating him.  I digress.)  When I go out the door for a run, I do not have to worry about bears or snakes or mountain lions mauling me.  The worst encounter might be with a possum or rabid raccoon (Okay, those are pretty bad, too...).  As much as I can't wait to get the hell out of Dodge, I always fret over where I will do my long runs once I'm out.

Last Friday night I returned from a six day vacation in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  One of my best friends turned 40 so we took our One-of-Us-Is-Turning-Forty vacations.  I flew into Albuquerque from JFK airport Sunday night Monday morning after a three and a half hour delay due to lightning and a sick passenger.  Sitting on the plane waiting to take off was not as bad as you might think, thanks to my last minute seat change to the first row (Sooo worth the extra $45) and my new Hanson's Marathon Method book.  Monday, May 30 was the beginning of the program's Week 1.  The book was a fascinating, easy read.  We finally arrived at the hotel at 6am Monday.

I did my research before I left, meaning I discovered two super important facts related to my running:  1. Santa Fe's elevation is 7,000 feet above sea level (!) and 2. mountain lions have attacked joggers as recently as January of this year. I kept these in mind Monday afternoon when I ventured out for my first New Mexican run.  The Hilton Buffalo Thunder property (Which coincidentally resembles Mereen from Game of Thrones.   Coincidence, because George R.R. Martin lives in Santa Fe!) has a 1.5 mile walking route and a 2.5 mile running route.  I took the latter up a winding hill near the golf course.  The path was empty, possibly because it was midday and freaking hot.  The only people on the golf course were the groundskeepers.  I wondered who might save me if I was attacked by a mountain lion (A remote possibility, but in my head, "possibility" is the key word).  My breathing was labored and I had to walk in a couple of spots.  My Long Island lungs were not used to this elevation.  After 3.6 miles, I decided to finish up at the gym.

Tuesday's run was the same as Monday's, but my breathing was easier.  Wednesday was my scheduled day off, however I decided to run and take Friday off, instead.  We were checking out on Friday and traveling back to New York.  We did a lot of activities, sightseeing, relaxing at a spa, and shopping.  I happened to notice that there were a lot of statues and paintings of mountain lions.  After watching a news segment the night before about a girl killed by a lion while on safari in South Africa, I  got the hint.  Wednesday and Thursday I ran on the treadmill.

View from the hotel running trail.

Running downhill.

Yes, that's snow on top of those mountains.  

In the Southwest.

In June.

Monday 6/1/15 - 6 miles, between an 8:50 and 9:28 pace

Tuesday 6/2/15 - 6 miles, 57:12, 9:32 pace

Wednesday 6/3/15 (Happy birthday, Hiro!) - 6 miles, 57:32, 9:35 pace

Thursday 6/4/15 - 6 miles, 57:32, 9:35 pace

Friday 6/5/15 - Off

Saturday 6/6/15 - 8.05 miles, 1:13:54,  9:11 pace

Sunday 6/7/15 - 8.01 miles, 1:12:50, 9:06 pace

Hanson's Marathon Method calls for all easy runs to be run EASY, for me, no faster than a 9:00 pace.  It takes some getting used to.  We shall see...