Who Let The Dogs Out?

No run today.  Helicopters flying overhead yesterday and today.  Why?

"Two pit bulls attacked four people in Lakeview Tuesday night and are still on the loose, according to Nassau County Police.

The first victim, a 16-year-old male, was walking on Parkside and Cedar Road around 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 when two pit bulls, one brown and the other black, attacked him, report police. He suffered injuries to his left arm. 

Ten minutes later, police say, the same two pit bulls attacked a 54-year-old woman who was walking on Pinebrook Avenue and Parkside Road. She also suffered injuries to her left arm.

Then, at 6:50 pm, the two dogs attacked a third victim, a 24-year-old female, who was walking on Pinebrook Avenue and Tyler Road. She suffered injuries to her left leg and right arm.

The last attack occurred at 7:01 p.m., in front of 33 Clinton Ave. Officers say the two dogs attacked a 29-year-old woman, who suffered injuries to her face, left arm, right arm and left shoulder.

All the victims were transported to an area hospital to seek treatment for their injuries.

Speaking to News 12 outside her home Wednesday, one of the women attacked by the dogs, Kashina Sylvester, said she had been getting out of her car when suddenly she was approached by the dogs. 

"I said 'Go home' and all of sudden, I'm being mauled by two dogs ... They started biting at my jacket and then one chomped down on my thigh and I went down."

Sylvester was then bitten on her face, arms and shoulder.

An intensive area search for the dogs was coordinated and conducted Tuesday night utilizing Bureau of Special Operations Officers, Emergency Services Unit, Aviation Unit, Fourth Precinct Patrol Officers and Town of Hempstead Animal Control Officers, but they were unable to locate the dogs at this time.

Authorities returned to the area Wednesday morning to continue the search, which they said will not conclude until the dogs are found.

The dogs were both wearing collars. One still had a piece of chain attached to its collar. Officers request anyone who may have information regarding these dogs to contact the Fourth Precinct."  by Tara Conroy, the local Patch

Lucy Legs

Ran 5 miles on a gorgeous, sunny 45 degree afternoon.  My knee felt fine.  I have been wearing a soft brace on it all day.   Sunday's forecast in Foxboro is 28 degrees with 20% chance of precipitation.  Not bad.

Lucy Liu is on the cover of Fitness magazine for the month of March.  She, of course, never had food issues (they never do), but says running is the quickest way to lose weight.  Thank you, Ms. Liu.  She loves the way her legs look as a result of running.  Without any weight training, running will define your quadriceps and calf muscles to look long and sinewy, even if you have short Asian legs like Lucy and myself.

During my last pregnancy, my weight peaked at 162 lbs.  I weighed 155 lbs. 6 oz. two days after I gave birth to my 6 lb. 10oz baby girl at the end of the summer of 2011 (I had always heard that a mother could lose up to 20 lbs. during childbirth.  I lost the exact weight of my daughter, not an ounce more or less).  Once Baby Girl was 6 weeks old I started running again.  I lost 45 lbs. by the spring.   Running does a body good.  Pass it on.

Oops, I Did It Again...

I ran 8.55 miles up on the north shore.  My last long-ish run before the 10 miler next weekend.  I didn't know what to expect as far as snow and ice conditions so I wore my Yatrax as a precaution.  Again, most of the run was on asphalt and concrete.  There were some snowy patches and I took full advantage of them when I could.  After about 5 miles, the trax began to hurt.  The strap was digging into my instep.  I'm not sure if it was because I was wearing them over my Adizeros which are pretty thin and lightweight.  The springs underneath were bothersome too.  I just did a little research and apparently I risk breaking them on asphalt and concrete.  Uh oh.  I will bring them up to Foxboro, but will likely not wear them unless the entire route is covered in snow.

I had to make a pit stop around Mile 4 so I ducked into Bed, Bath & Beyond.  This put me on the main road which had no bike lane or sidewalk available.  I wound up running a hundred yards in the yellow painted island in the center of the traffic.  Not recommended for the faint of heart.  This happened again around Mile 7.  There was not enough room in the center so I had to just sprint before oncoming traffic caught up.  Spring can't come soon enough.

I checked the Hal Higdon 10 Mile Training program.  In both the Advanced and Intermediate plans, he has you running a minimum of 10 miles before the race.  Oops.  It seems I'm doing things a little backwards these days.

Ice feels really good on the knee, by the way.

Winter Wonderland

Nemo left about 12 inches of snow by the morning.  I wore my Yak Trax for the first time and set out on a 5+ mile run at around 1:30pm.  It was a comfortable 30 degrees.  Most of the run was on concrete, but when I hit icy or snowy patches, I was glad to have them on.  I'm not sure if running on the concrete will ruin them.  It was tricky navigating the huge puddles on the streets at each corner and there were more than a few people who didn't shovel their sidewalks (tsk tsk).  My sneakers were pretty soaked by the time I got home.  Overall, it was a great run.  The white backdrop was a breath of fresh air (check back next week when it's black slush and I'm cursing all things winter) and the temperature was perfect.  No iPhone, but this song seemed a propos.

Sno Haus, the local ski shop, is having a huge sale this weekend.  Up to 80% off.  I got new snow pants for $117 (marked down from $135) and a new black Bonfire jacket for $120 (originally $239).  I do love a good deal!

Fun secret pockets

Nemo Is Omen Backwards.........

Top Ten Reasons Not To Run Today:

10.  Rain
9.    Sleet
8.    Snow
7.    Cold
6.    Damp
5.    Icy
4.    Blustery
3.    See answers 10-4
2.    Baby Girl feeling Blah
1.    If Baby Girl feels Blah, Mommy feels Blah

I spoke with my mother this morning to make sure she and my father had everything they needed for the blizzard.  She mentioned that she recently got a rooster comb injection (an injection!  Of course!).  I find this very odd since she doesn't read my blog and I did not bring this up.

Cock-a-doodle-gross

3.91 miles in 30:10, 27 degrees.

I may finally get to use my Yaktrax this weekend.  We're expecting 12-18 inches of snow starting tomorrow evening.  Blizzard conditions.  I am very happy my 10k wasn't this Saturday.  More snow on Valentine's Day too.

My knees have been feeling a little funny the past few weeks.  Today I can feel the same sac of liquid above my left knee that was there a few months ago.  I will try icing it later.  I'm not a big fan of icing because well, I don't like to be cold.  I really don't want to go back to the orthopedist again, though.  I had knee problems post Baltimore marathon.  It got to the point where I was shuffling around like a 90 year old.  I went to the doctor and he gave me a choice.  He could treat my knee with the red flap of skin on top of a rooster's head (um...whuh?).  Rub it on my knee?  Make me eat it?  Seriously?  Bleccch.   Is there a farm for these "castrated" roosters?   Awful.  I mean who came up with this remedy?  Was Farmer Joe sitting around with an inflamed knee when his favorite rooster sidled up to him and started rubbing his head against it?  "Hmmm, that feels good!"  The next thing you know there are a bunch of bald, bachelor roosters (because what chicken in her right mind would want to be seen with a bird  like that?)  aimlessly roaming the coops.  The other option was a direct cortisone shot.  I got the shot.  It hurt, but less traumatizing than fiddling with a rooster extremity.  The next day my knee felt brand new, better than rooster cooties, but still not ideal.  Ice it is.

Vitamin E and the Lazy Runner

6.35 miles at 7am in 30 degrees.  The run started off great.  Pink skies to the east.

Yesterday I had some annoying chaffing from the bottom band of my sports bra.  I will now share my ancient Chinese secret.  I put some vitamin E on it overnight and this morning...voila!  'twas healed.  I have been using vitamin E on scars, scrapes, and cuts since I was a teenager.  I buy a jar of the capsules, prick a hole in one and squeeze out the magic potion onto the open cut.  It may not work overnight, but after a couple of days your skin will be good as new.  It even works on scars.  This is not a secret, you say?  Okay.  How about baby powder magically removing sand from the beach?  That's more like an ancient Mommy secret.

A while ago someone in one of the Runners World Online Forums asked if there were any "lazy runners" out there.  People who love running 5, 10, 15, 20 miles, but in every other area of life, they're lazy shlubs.  Of course, I assumed this question was directed at me and me alone.  I was annoyed that this total stranger was exposing me to the (Runners) world.  He went on to describe two types of runners:  the Type A Runner and the Lazy Runner.  The Type A runs because he has all of this Type A energy bursting at the seams and he needs to release it somehow.  The Lazy Runner runs for the pure joy of it.  He doesn't want to walk over to the garbage can to throw out a diaper (preferring the 3 pointer from the bed), but he runs every day because this is what he loves and who he is.  This is who I am.  I love bounding out the door in my Adidas for an hour and a half and returning with that feeling of accomplishment and the "runner's high" that makes you feel invincible, if only for an hour after.  When it comes to Real Life Lazy Arse Me, forget it.  If I could lie around watching The Golden Girls marathons House Hunters International or Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations all day in my pajamas with unlimited popcorn and Milk Duds... I choose this.   I look fondly back on those days when I was younger and mastered the art of torpidity.  I was good at it.  Even now, it takes a lot out of me to go downstairs and get my bowl of ice cream and glass of milk after I'm already in bed.  The kids are much better at this feat.  They're spry.  Their legs don't mind the countless trips up and down those damn stairs.  I'm tired just typing about it.

And yes, I've perfected the 3 point shot from the bed.

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?

Go Ravens!!!

I got my Footnotes magazine from GLIRC.  For a local running club, their magazine is pretty legit.  And...they even welcomed me in it!  I'm a fan!

No run today.  I was up until 3 watching The English Patient and then Baby Girl woke up at 7.  I tried to have her go back to sleep, but she was not having it.  That's my story, the end.

Superbowl Sunday!  Go Ravens!  Why?  I love everything Baltimore after last October's marathon!  Go Orioles!  Go Edgar Allen Poe (Well, I've always had a thing for Poe)!  Go The Wire!  Go ...um...um...Go Inner Harbor!

Hooky Friday

I missed writing yesterday's run!  My first day skipped since I started.  Sniff, sniff.  I guess I was tired.  I went up to my mother's and ran 6.12 miles in 32 degrees.  I did almost the same route as last time.  The first hill seemed harder.  I loved the run, though.  I love looking at all of the beautiful homes.  Lots of new construction, but the older ones are more my style.  I love the charm.  Yes, I admit it.  I have actually ducked into Open Houses while out running.  I would try my best to go unnoticed, but I'm usually sweaty, out of breath, and oozing adrenalin.  As the Princess or the Pauper would say (Can you tell I have three daughters?), "A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do."  I digress.  Back to my run.   One house's garage was completely in ruins from Hurricane Sandy.  I was surprised that it had not been cleaned up after all this time.  It looked very dangerous.  I watched "Infested" on Animal Planet last night, so I can only imagine what is living beneath all that debris (shudder).

I took my time and finished at 53:43, an 8:46 pace.

Halfway up first hill.  Objects may appear flatter than they actually are.

Poor garage.

Last year I wore my watch (regular sports watch, no Garmin) during every run.  I wound up racing almost all of my practice runs.  Bad idea for marathon training, good idea if I wanted to get injured.  The mileage is more important than timing.  I started running sans watch, except for tempo runs or if I'm on a time constraint (i.e., Grandma's left alone with Baby Girl, both of them watching the clock with bated breath).

Today's 19 degree run was local.  I decided to do a tempo.  Sav was left in charge of the younger three,  another time constraint.  3.91 miles in 30:56.  More importantly, no one was crying when I got back.  Yay!