Big Day

I'm totally wiped oooot from today's workout.  We did a time trial + a hard transition run then a swim.  So it was basically like doing a race.  After the run we went straight to the pond where I went in all the way past my waist--that is, until a snake decided to "drop in" right next to me.  Not sure if it was practicing its diving or what, but it launched itself off of the stone patio right into the water.  Of course, I screamed and hopped out of the water, but then got right back in once I realized it was ONLY a small snake.  

I'm trying to get energy back now because it is almost 70 degrees out and I can't resist the idea of going back out for another ride.  Sounds crazy, but this kind of weather is hard to come by.  It will be more like I am going out to ride my bike, like how I used to ride around the mastenbrook place circle 100 times or ride down to Jennifer's house down mont. village avenue (no helmet, of course!) on my mini ten speed.  

By the way, it was so nice out this morning that I used the remote control to pull down the electric screens on the porch and then opened the nano doors.  That was a Rose Lane first!!!  Everyone planning their spring/summer visits????

Pressing on

Today has been a big day of workouts and I'm about to press on to the next one.  "Pressing on" is a term/action I learned from Grandpop.  He was forever pressing on.  

We got up and did a LONG run today - 13+ miles in the woods.  I was actually sad when I looked down at my watch and we only had an hour to go.  There were still so many trails we didn't get a chance to run.  After the run, we came back and warmed up (it is still cold here) and had time for a quick snack before heading to the pool.  I didn't swim that fast, which was a little disappointing, but still got in a quality 5k session.  Next time I won't have such high expectations for swimming fast after running that much.  

Next up is a trainer ride.  In addition to being cold, today it is also rainy.  

We rode outside again today!!!  We did one loop plus a little extra of the American Zofingen.  It was great--a little cold out still--but at least we were out there on all of our favorite climbs once again.  I think this counts as my first official ride from RL.  The bike garage set up is great.  

I had to come back upstate after only 1 day in the city because of the pool situation.  We actually got in to CP yesterday, on Bill's guest passes, and had a big day of training planned.  But, unfortunately, the pool heater was broken.  It was 75 in the water and about 50 on the pool deck.  Not so great, especially when you are fighting a spring cold!  So, we got in a great treadmill run, a 10k's worth of running at under 5:40 pace, pilates and stretching and that was it.  

Then, we beat it on up here to get to the Gunks masters class.  Got there 30 min. late but it was cool with everyone and we didn't even get one dirty look!!  We returned to the pool bright and early this morning for another masters class.  

Better go make a protein filled dinner now.  

Super Sisters.
The Fro Yo.
They Boys. 
Coach Jeff.

Get that girl some heels!!!

Profiles.

Drinkin' Tonight?

Hall of Fame

Last weekend we went down to The Mount (Mt. St. Mary's) for the Hall of Fame Dinner.  It was a fun night in a special room (the Seminary Dining Room) in the newly renovated "SUB."  For those of you wondering, "Chips or Pretzels" sadly were not options in the dinner buffet.  Frozen yogurt from the machine was, however, offered to the kids and to certain people who asked for a special request.  The event was lots of fun and included speeches from the Mount President and all of the 5 athletes being inducted.  Jeff Bair, my coach while I was at the Mount, was there and gave my introduction speech.  He said some really nice things, so nice that I had a hard time believing that he was talking about me.  All the athletes got to speak too--I had the honor of going after the 6'8" basketball player who had the room rolling with stories about Jim "Bowtie" Phelan.  I kept my speech short (5'2" style) but managed to thank all of my favorite supporters who were out in full force.  

Pictures of the event coming soon.

Spring?

To celebrate spring's arrival, Karl and I just came back from an easy sunset run along the rail trail.  Even though it isn't spring yet and the run wasn't on the training schedule, I couldn't resist getting out there.  It was raining most of the day and then it cleared up and got warm (48, almost 50) at around 6 pm.  I'm really looking forward to days when the low is 50, not the high.  I'd even be happy with days when the low was 40.  I guess I should just accept what living in upstate new york is all about.  

We followed up yesterday's big brick workout with a hard swim of over 6k.  It feels good to get back to quality swim training after traveling (Ecuador and Maryland) and being without CP in the city.  

Tonight we're going to watch basketball and have 'za -- sorry SJ, I know you feel like you are missing out on two of your favorite activities!! hahaha.  The pizza is due to an expiring gift certificate and the basketball is because karl is winning her pool.  

Jack!!

I'd like to introduce a new character to my blog:  nephew #3, born yesterday in NYC, Jack Everett Smith.  Check out my sisters' blogs for photos of Jack's first few days.  Sam now has a little brother and Leezie and Speed officially have a full house (apartment).    I got to meet Jack E. (or as Karl is calling him, Jackie Robinson Smith) briefly just a few hours after he was born, but then I had to leave to come upstate for training.  Today was a BIG day that I couldn't miss.  It was also the first day that it was in the 60's and sunny in NP, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ride outside.  After a hard 5k swim in the morning, we spent the afternoon doing a 2.5 hour ride and 40 min. run.  The ride included about 2 hours worth of intervals, most of which were directly into a huge headwind.  I thought for sure we would have covered 50 miles or more, but we came in around 40 because even though we were going about 40k effort for the intervals, it was so windy that we were only going 15 miles an hour or less.  When we went out for the run, my legs were so worked that I almost tumbled all the way down rose lane, arms flailing and everything.  

Next up is more puuuuutting things away.  That's all I've been doing since the last time I blogged.  The apartment move has prompted us to move lots of crap (not even craptastic) upstate so that we don't have to clutter up our new apartment.  Box after box.  I have at least 3 more in this round, then maybe I can move on to the next project.  

Friday

Today got off to a slow start but, after a sleep in (7:15) things have been nonstop.  Did some driving, shopping at Crap in Bucket and Trader Joe's, lots of moving, unpacking and lifting heavy boxes, a 3x1000 in the pool, a 75 min. trainer ride, a run on the rail trail, made some homemade corn muffins...and even a few more things.  now i am totally exhausted.  

By the way it is still COLD here.  Looking forward to an early run in the forest!

Guess I need to adjust my helmet?!?

I've been taking it easy this week after all of last week's traveling. Turns out I may have managed to eat something funny and am not feeling 100%.

We had a fun dinner out last night, testing out a few places in our new neighborhood. First we went to this little bar right near SJ's office and had a beer and some oysters and then we moved on to an italian place and had good pizzas. I think we may have found our new "artepasta"!!!

Articles

I was just searching on line for the article that appeared in the Guayaquil newspaper about the Ecuador race. In the process, I found this article:

http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/deporte/marzo09/marzo11/deporte5.htm

from Radio Habana. That's a first, a Cuban media clip. Think that will help me get sponsors?

Back

My race report from Ecuador is coming soon. My in-house editor is looking it over first.

I rolled in at 4:06 this morning. The trip back wasn't that bad, but now I'm feeling the effects of an all-nighter. I'm just happy that I held off the carsick on the bus ride and the taxi ride. First class on both flights helped too.

Next I have to figure out how to work of off this travel hangover.

ecuador

i made it to ecuador and all the way to the coastal city of playas (beaches). it is hot, very hot, and sunny out right now, and it is very hot inside in the internet cafe. so hot that i might have to leave. my $22 a night hotel, including meals, has working aircondition, but is a far, far cry from the last race hotel i stayed in (fairmont in bermuda). it was a bit shocking at first, but i´m getting used to it. i´m told i´m lucky because my room has hot water. not that hot showers are needed around here.

this morning i got up and went for a run along the road next to the beach. not too many people were out and it wasnt super hot yet. i didn´t even feel scared. a group of us swam in the ocean, the water must have been about 80. warmer than the suny pool.

the race isn´t for 2 more days, so i´m going to continue lazing about until then. guess that´s part of the job, right?

Good Bye to CP

After almost 10 years and many hours of hard work, I retired from Chelsea Piers today. I unceremoniously did my last workout there this afternoon -- a quick 40 minute pre-race treadmill run. In true CP fashion, not only did we have our choice of treadmills, but we also had a celebrity run-in (one of my favorite TV characters, the curly haird detective, capt. Ross from L&O: CI). In addition to the pounds lost and calories burned, I had a pretty good run at CP...lots of good times and lots of good friends made -- Rod, Simon M., Rodolfo, Cami, and of course, how could I forget meeting SJ there for the first time and, more importantly, for the second time (when he picked me out of the cafe line). I'm not sure what I'm going to do without Isabel's pilates class that I've been doing religiously since 2005. I guess if a gym can change your life, this one definitely did!! sorry, cheezy, but true.

I'll probably go back for visits now and then to swim with Rod, but my main places of working out will be Cadence and my new apartment gym when I'm in the city and the trails in Mohonk and SUNY when I'm upstate.

Snow Day

I'm racing this weekend in Ecuador and just realized that there will be almost a 100 degree temperature difference between here and there.  Any suggestions on how to prepare for running in 93 degrees when it is -7 here? 

Maybe do my run workout tomorrow wearing SJ's extra warm ice climbing jacket?  

Woke up to a disappointing 2" of snow.  Still enough to put on the down puffy coat and SJ's dad's wellies and shovel the stairs.  I just hope for some reason the pool isn't closed for the day.  And, I'm really glad I don't have a run on the schedule for today, especially after yesterday's attempt at a 90 min. run in 22 degrees.  

Back in New Paltz

We made it back to New Paltz in less than 12 hours.  Not bad, even though our travel plans, although well thought out, were not exactly direct.  We met all sorts of interesting people.  Our first taxi driver (still in Tucson) was a Harley rider from Sheepshead Bay (BK) and had the same accent as Arturo.   Our second taxi driver (Albany to New Paltz) spent some time in Tucson in the 70's, also on a motorcycle, hanging out with friends who lived in a bungalow colony on top of Mt. Lemmon, in Summerhaven.  

I took this photo of a car we came across in a Tucson parking lot.  Get it?  Tu-sawwwn??  

Tucson was lots of fun and I definitely appreciate the quirkiness of the place, all of the old cars people drive around and the many, many places to buy good "junque" (treasures).