Yin/Yang

Yin: did the 3rd of 3 races, did alright. Nothing spectacular, but alright. Mid pack, typical, but consistent. GREAT to see Deb, Noelia, George, Helen. Spoke of the gathering later. Only after the race did I see Tom, he JUST made it-and even after working all night kicked my ass. What a stud.

Made plans @ The Parkhouse for later, hadda make tracks outta NYC as today was the big day: Keith's urine.

So, SPED home, took the computer keyboards from hiding, had him pee and.........and...........the envelope please!!!! POSITIVE. Great. Another week of punishment/World of Warcraft withdrawl. Now understand, Shebitch is God knows where, Keith's alone in the house. He doesn't even know where It went. Guarantee It's @ the beach-ditch your son to attend to self. Nice. Meanwhile, It counteracts my every decision, the only being in this home who can even spell "parent." So, It went out and bought him a keyboard to counteract my computer ban. Been harping on me to return It's keyboard. So, I did. And took away the power cord and harddrive for the computer. Enjoy the keyboard bitch. Pity Keith is in the middle. He has to learn.

Understand: He wakes up @ the crack of "too late to still be sleeping," I'm long gone to whatever race, It is nowhere to be found. Life @ Toxichouse.

Thank G he wants to come to the BBQ. How fucking long can you stay inside. If I hadn't taken him to the movies Friday he wouldn't have done shit except X box.

2/3 ain't bad?

did the NYPD vs FDNY 5m in the am, 5k Sunset Run in the Park in the pm.

This am's run-5m in Central Park was HOT. 2 walk breaks. This pm's 5k, in King's Park was HOT. Does King's Park EVER get easier?

Manana 4m in Central Park, while exhausted from today. Why do I do this crap???

Nice to see Curtis and Terry "the voice" esta manana. Gotta hand it to the NYPD/FDNY, they know how to party!!!

***GREAT article on The 5m Challenge in Footnotes. I take personal pride in this. Before I was Prez, there wasn't mention of us, we took out an ad for the last 2 years, numbers swelled. As well they should. One down note: we never broke 300. Oh well, not for lack of effort. Thanks to some amazing peeps: Deb with the web page, Ken with the newsletter, Lynn with her anxiety, we done good. STILL pissed my Long Island peeps didn't ALL show for what I felt was MY race, but fuck 'em, they missed out. Can't wait 'til next year when there's another Prez and I can go back to having fun instead of feeling responsible. (HATE those goddamned meetings).

let the games begin!!!

big weekend is here!!!

1)5m manana am, FDNY vs NYPD. A Central Park run NOT done by the NYRR, but Curtis's peeps. Gotta do it. Helluva way to jump back into the saddle n'est pas?

2)5k manana, por la tarde. First annual King's Park Nissequogue.

3)4m Sunday, Japan Day in Central Park.

4)BBQ Sunday pm.

wow.

sooooooooo close

last night core training, this am ellip. Chafing to hit the road again, but can't risk injury.

Back in the saddle Saturday.

day two, check

last night, fireworks. Did you hear them? Yes, Shebitch again in rare form. Why don't I ______ Why didn't I _______. This from the mental case that took my son away for 7 days beginning on Easter Sunday, then can't pay it's own bills. Pathetic.

Core training tonight, felt good to be on the road to being back. No running yet, STILL sore.

Funny, Laughlin put out the results as 4:59. I'll get him for that.

first day back

and how do we feel? good. Not THAT good, i.e. not good enough to run, but good.

The boss was his usual self-pain in the ass, actually hadda hold down the fort without his left hand. What affected me most was the memorial day barbecue for the patients. No one played guitar, apparently one monkey does stop a show.

Legs better, quads achy but not that bad. Put it this way: going down stairs doesn't make me howl in pain, don't havta go down on my ass.

...gettin' used to this marathon thing.

The day after

thanks to the hot tub after, not too bad today. AND, guess what??? There IS a Y in Burlington. Thank G it closed @ 2 pm otherwise I'd have gone.

THIS run has to be in the rotation as a club roadtrip. REALLY a great time.

Did great coming back, didn't hit the city @ all, left @ 7:30 ish, back to Queens @ 1ish. Not too shabby. AND, when we got to The Job, they were having their memorial day bbq.

Bless Tom, great bud. Never have I spent so much time with one human, besides Steve, without wishing they'd shut the fuck up. With Tom, it was all good. VERY cool. Again, being a New Yorker, what could have made it better? Having the Quebec crew there. But this Yin'd the Yang; he couldn't make that trip, so he made this one.

He did GREAT: 3:50. Me, I did my usual, you know you're running consistent/strong when the crowds @ the end are telling you "looking strong, good pace," I may be mid pack, but I'm a CONSISTENT mid pack.

Back to Toxichouse, what's Keith doing??? He's on the fucking computer. Conned Shebitch into getting him a keyboard (remember, positive urine, computer ban?) because of a project-G forbid he uses the library. Why did I go ballistic? He's on it playing Warcraft. Needless to say, he has another week of computer ban, AND another keyboard is locked away. Great parenting eh? Dad says one thing, Bitch does another. AND is stupid enough to but the manipulation of a child. Of course, dog shit not picked up since I left either. Memorial day, and he's alone. It went to a birthday party, then waitressing. Nice. Warm memories. And you wonder why I take off?

...cool medal.

I'm back on the horse, thanks to you guys.

5/24/09 Race day

This am they had fruit and danish (danish???) for the runners. Filled up on bananas-3of 'em. Temps? Warm. Somewhere 'round 65. Here we go!!!

No rain, yet. Temps do-able. Singlet n' shorts-no jacket.

Shuttle left the hotel every 10 mins, really good. Got to the start 2.1 miles away in 5 mins. ALMOST could'a walked it, but hey, save it for the course.

Where's the start? Right back to Quebec flashback central. WOW. The boardwalk where we all went for our walk, pic @ the swing, lighthouse in Lake Champlain...Also, just happens to be the finish area. Way to go G!!! Miss Pret and my peeps, they're with me-sure I'll ket karpal tunnel from texting.

One MAJOR note: NO water @ the start area. Wassup wit' 'dat? Here @ the home of "Vermont Pure???"

Got to the start not too early, not too late. 45 mins prior to the gun. Light rain, a spritz. Hung out, port-o-sanned etc...then...we're off! Hills for first 10 miles, then a stretch, then a BIG hill @ 18, then rolling hills, then downhill, then flat (boardwalk). After mile 3, the sun came out. You can imagine the sound of 3,000 + runners' soaked running shoes. Powergel (Carboom) @ miles 11 n' 18. Didn't need my fuelbelt-worn bandolero style so as to not mess up my precious bib-actually more comfortable than around the waist.

LOTS of recognition wearing the AP Singlet. Gave me what I needed-that and asking for cigarettes @ every water stop-that one never gets old. Something about too many earrings/tatoos that also drew alot of attention. One runner asked if I knew Rob Pasqual. Amazing, you CANNOT hide.

I was taken by the amount of spectators. Not NY, but a great, enthusiastic bunch. Also, Alley Pond REALLY preps you for a course like this one.

I'd been warned about the "assault on the battery," big long hill @ 18. Again, AP prepped me well, i.e. don't shoot your load too soon. Some XC parts on the course, but basically hilly/rolling hills. Only prob was @ the end-if one more motherfucker inaccurately said "half a mile to go," I would'a killed.

Passed the 1/2 way mark @ around 2:15. This was VERY imp't. This whole run was an exercise in getting back on the horse, i.e. after bailing on the LI full and doing the half, was I going to be a pussy again. Would'a been easy-perfect excuse: rain @ the start. But no, man up. REALLY glad I did.

Reconnected with Tom, food after SUCKED-half a bagel, nutrigrain bars, crap, total crap, but hey, what a GREAT course! NY was tougher-but you didn't realize it due to the crowds, but this was def # 2.

Texted Pret, was there with me every step. Lifew IS good.

5/23/09, Sunday

"It's the Anchorage"


One day to go.

Slept VERY well, always do. Nice not to have slamming doors, bitching, accusations.......miss Keith but...such is life.

Woke up @ 8:30, went for a hot tub/swim, then off to The expo (again) to ask unasked questions, see what's doin', hang, go to the pasta dinner. No pressure, no agenda.

Attended a talk by a triathlete re: prepping-mentally-for a marathon. Then, a talk by organizers re: the course. So far so good. Took a ride to get new shoelaces-the thingy I have a million of-but not here-the nyrr give you to affix the chip-the opne they give you here is weak. Actually hadda buy new laces to thread the chip in, as the laces I have won't make it through the eyelets. OK, got 'em, now back to the hotel to chill.

Took a nap then back to the expo (it's a block away) for the 3:30 showing of Run for Your Life-the Fred Lebow story. Is this cool or what? Doing a marathon manana, in the theater here (within the expo), they showed both Spirit of the Marathon AND Run for Your Life. Could you plan this any better? GREAT inspiration to prime the pumps. AND, guess who was @ the expo? BILL RODGERS!!! Cool!!! @ Marine Corps I met John Bingham, here Bill Rodgers. Tom took a pic of Bill and I-with me wearing The AP Colors. A VERY nice guy-painfully thin, and WOULDN'T shut up!!! Loves to talk. A really nice guy.

We went to the pasta dinner-BIG plate of salad, BIG plate of lasagna (deeelish-lots of sausage), carrots (baby, NOT cross cut a la Pret), lemon tart, cheesecake, brownie, choc chip black n' white brownie, coffee. And here we are!!! 6:57 pm. Did I buy anything? A singlet, some tschotcshkes, 2 mugs-nice mugs. Nothing really. Not here to shop.

REALLY nice job @ the expo. They really did things well. The prob is: you could never do this in NY. The Big One is too big.

Miss my peeps. They really do follow on your shoulders @ times like these. You know you're smitten when you imagine how they'd respond looking through your eyes looking @ what you're seeing. Wow. This is good.

Having LOTS of Quebec flashbacks. As if the hotel being literally on the next block after Eastern Mountain Sports wasn't enough. THAT trip was really special. Though they didn't know it, I was @ a very low point, they came through merely by being there. Revisiting the places we visited, I'm filled with warm memories. And being here with Tom makes it that much cooler-he missed the trip. We're a good team.

Wish Pret was here. Wish Keith was here. Wish Shebitch was dead. Can't have everything. I don't feel like the wrong people are in the wrong places, but I DO wish my peeps were here with me.

Life is good.

***Re: "It's the Anchorage," a nice hotel, clean etc...but short on amenities. The breakfast buffet is donuts and cold cereal, not even pens in the rooms-don't underestimate the importance when you need one. No business center (I'm handwriting this to transpose when I get back to Toxichouse,) no gym. For what we're paying ($90 a night for 2), it's a steal. Big room, clean, cable, pool/hot tub.

5/22/09

(got some catching up to do, been away)

"You wanna bag with that?"

Plan WAS to hookup @ 3 am @ The Parkhouse. Left Toxichouse @ 2:15 am, @ The Parkhouse @ 2:45. So far so good. 'Round 3:05 Tom calls "I'm @ the railroad, where are you?" He thought we were supposed to hook up @ Toxichouse. I reminded him there are no signs of life there, reminded him of The Plan. He made it to The Parkhouse in 15 mins, followed one me to The Job, parked, loaded his stuff into The Beast, away we went.

"The Beast?" Yes. The Charger. Did we get a great rental or what??? Keith thinks it's my new car. Shebitch is insanely pissed. Perfect.

Due to the hour @ which we left, zero traffic. Only one $5 and later a $1.75 toll, WOW! Thanks G for the EZ Pass. We flew, I'm talkin' clear sail. For the sake of a)surviving b)not getting lost, Tom drove. Can you IMAGINE me driving The Charger for that period? State Troopers'd be licking their lips!!!

My idea (dunno why?) was that it was a 9 hr drive-wrong. THAT might be the total hours to get to Quebec, but Burlington-we left @ 3:30, got here @ 9. Not bad.

So, now that we got here, then what? The hotel wasn't ready for us-and after trying no less than 3 times, was finally ready @ 2:30. What'd we do?
1)Checked out "the sights," retraced our steps from the Quebec trip. Nice, really nice. Easter Mountain Sports, took the Ben n' Jerry's tour, really fun.
*neither of us slept on the way up, def 2 travelers who got along.
2)Checked out the waterfront, where the Quebecoise Wearers of the Green took a stroll on our now famous roadtrip, on Church St w/the cd stores, used bookstore.....
3)Checked out the expo. VERY nice job they did. Plenty of freebies, cool race shirts, great people (this IS Vermont after all).

Tom packed a sandwich/wrap platter from his side gig. We pigged out on that. Then, the hot tub/pool @ the hotel, then off to the movies. Went to see Night @ the Museum 2. Good flick. We both fell asleep 'round 10 (after being up for 20 hours) while watching, guess.....House. Too perfect.

So, "you wanna bag with that?" Translation: this IS Vermont, they're VERY eco-friendly. EVERYONE from the vendors to the CVS cashier asks if you want a bag with your purchase. Jeeeeez, I'm a)a New Yorker and b)an American, it's my God given right to destroy the planet. Don't these people get it???

made a list, checked it twice!!!

got the hotel, check.

got the wheels, REALLY cool wheels, check.

packed, of course. Check. (gotta love spring marathons, less baggage).

VERY excited about the trip.

Even the weather's predicted to cooperate, though warm. I'll take it.

Esta manana, St.Francis, let's hope the colds/flu/ etc...stay far away, at least until Monday!!!

Now's the time to think: you've done the miles, now chill.

Esta noche: core training. Might do spinning tomorrow-way to cope with no running tomorrow.

4 for 4

did the Wall Street 3m, the 4th of 4 races. What a crowd!!!!! Thousands! (I thought they capped the entrants @ 5,000?)

But, that wasn't THE story.

11am, It calls, "and you wonder why I get mad @ you," no I don't-don't really give a shit, but don't lemme interrupt, "why do you put the dogpoop....."

Now, remember kiddies, It and Spike wanted Hulk, and never walk nor clean after him. Yes, It IS mental.

So, of course I leave a string of voicemails, "if that was your way of thanking me for mowing the lawn," "if that is how you thank me for cleaning after YOUR pet..." you get the drift.

So with a belly full of anger, off to NYC. Hung with Pret, got my head on straight, saw Management-a GREAT film-Jennifer Aniston was REALLY good. A real indie flick.

Then, the race. Wow. Just Wow. @ one point-prerace I turned to see the thousands headed to the start-really impressive.

Then, on the way home, stuck in a not moving bus for 30 minutes. Now kiddies, what do we do after a race: right, get rid of that which we ingested to do the race. You can imagine my condition. Took 2 hours to get home. FUCK!!! And what was the cause, you know those handicapped things on busses to allow wheelchairs? This one didn't work. FUCK!!

Thank G for texting.

you think I'm kidding???

after all the drama here yesterday, he's sick today. All that for nothing. AND It spends the day out doing whatever. Sick kid @ home n' leave him unattended. I give up.

Results in from Forest Paek. 3/4 races done. Manana Wall Street. Can't wait, disorganized/anarchic/chaos.

Rented the veeeeehicle for Burlington. Yipeeee!!!!!

Beautiful morning, crisp, good day for St.Francis. Felt great to be back. Everything showing the effects of rain, rain, and then...more rain. Was beautiful.

bitch is useless

ok. Keith's on computer ban due to testing positive for thc. Ok. Of course, weeks ago he gets an assignment, to be done on computer. Of course I find out today, it's due tomorrow. I tell him, have the person who gavce birth to you handle it. Of course, I come home, it isn't done. It is sleeping, on the air mattress in the living room. Did It take him to the library to use their computers, of course not. Is he continuing the pattern It has of "lastminutitis?" Yes. Am I the only person @ this fucking address with his head NOT up his ass? You decide.

Forest Park 4m this morning. Thank God. Reconnected. Few Striders: Darlene, Eric, Sam, Hank. Not the usual crowd. Peeps going their own ways. Really miss the days when the club was more together, but, such is life. On the glass being half full front, we had representation there as well as @ yesterday's Kidney 10k. Nice to have the numbers to be able to do that. Still, miss the peeps joining together to support Queens. Such is life. The children...they leave the nest..................

REALLY feel like the only person here who gives a fuck (Toxichouse that is). Is it REALLY so hard to follow up on your son's homework. Apparently so.

1/2 way there!

BSA 5k, check.

Healthy Kidney 10k, check.

Manana the Forest Park 4m.

Tues: Wall Street 3m.

Weird distances n'est pas?

This am, POURING rain @ the start, then a mile in, it stopped. Crap. Thank G for the West Side Y. Set up camp there, so I was good to go before and after, during...not so much. Did ok, nothing remarkable, but ok. This was one of those "hurry up and get it done" races. usually you enjoy it, but the weather really detracted. Saw DP @ the end, just a quick "howdy" then off to dry clothes. Shame really, this one's usually a blast. Fortunately, got a GREAT parking spot-right across from the Y. You know you have a great spot when the doormen are breaking your balls asking if you're leaving.

It and Spike out @ a first communion. Didn't mention it to me. Hurts, but s'ok. Remember the special NBC aired friday, THAT was It before It went mental. Farrah is an identical twin to It when It was bedridden. Sent chills up my spine. Reminded me of what life was like before Cancer struck, and how alone I feel. This hurts. So it goes.......

Saw Angels and Demons. AMAZING. Took me back to trips to Rome. Hadda hand it to my Mother. She broke her balls to expose us to tons of shit. The film is really well done-2 hrs, 20 mins, but it passes quickly-especially if you've been there. Felt like they trailed the spots I visited to scout locations. After a while got tired of thinking "been there...been there...there too..."

2 hearts, babe, get the job done........................

here we go!!!

last night marked the start of the "silly season," the "too much in too soon": season. Had a shit time @ the 5k last night, but 20 seconds better than last year.

Tomorrow: Healthy Kidney (leg 2 of "The Innards Tour," Sunday: the 4m.

Tuesday: Wall Street.

Sunday: Vermont City.

Yipeeee!!!!! Love this shit!

THAT was fun

no St.Francis esta manana, hadda have fresh legs for esta noche, the BSA 5k in Central Park. Funny how the day went quickly, the morning at least. Took the afternoon off, saw "Tyson," very good flick, then off to the Y, get a room, then off to the race.

Big hug to the registration head, another year of knowing each other. What a cool thing.

Rain? Nahhhhh. Lots ditched the race because of fear of precip, but nothing. Misty @ times, but that's it.

Then, dinner @ Mickey Mantle's. Nice.

For a brief fleeting moment, recaptured the joy I had in the beginning. That awe filled "gee, I'm in the city" feeling. Manana, turn back into a pumpkin.

...so it goes.....

home stretch

St.Francis this am, another cool(er) morning. Felt good, saw one usual suspect: LI Marathon guy (Mr. 6 1/2 hrs-my kind'a guy).

Core training this pm, nice, doesn't ache quite as much, could this be progress?

Looking forward to the weekend. Technically, starts tomorrow night-Boy Scout 5k, then sat-Healthy Kidney, and Sunday's 4m. The busy season is here. Not to mention the Wall Street Run Tuesday.

Dr.House/Denis Leary

my role models. (Rescue Me is on tonight, following the House season finale last night. Does it get any better??

BEAUTIFUL morning. Ran St.Francis, saw my usual suspects, on the way ran into Eddie, on the way back ran into Len, finished off my run with Rettmer. Really a gorgeous morning. After this am, the day could do its worst, had no effect. What beauty!!! Really got an appreciation for G. OK, the rain SUCKED, but The Line resembles the rainforest with all the growth. + it's the time of year before the heat kicks in. yummmmmm.

Stuck in a Runner's Edge Cycle

ok, joined GLIRC. As Mike joined The Wearers of the Green, I hadda. They send a welcome packet-what's within it? A $15 Runner's Edge gift cert. Nice. If I EVER pay for a powergel I'll shit. One of life's little unexpected pleasures. Seems I win the gift certs for Runner's Edge as raffles, or get 'em like this. Cool.

Had the US Open Training tonight. Getting psyched. AND how cool is it that it happens during Father's Day week?

St.Francis esta manana. After doing the 5k's, felt really good to get back.

Hurt so good!!!

did the Morris Mauler for the third or fourth time (think the third). WOW!!! There's a vertical hill, a.k.a. "The Bastard" rated a 9.3/10. Between that hill and "the steps" (68 steps) it's a killer. The rule of thumb is add a minute or so to your average, and that's what your time will be. I came in a lil' over 10 mins. Ran 1/2 way up The Bastard, then walked, then ran 6 paces to the top (Helen was there cheering). OUCH!!! A REAL 5k with balls deluxe!!! I was 20 seconds behind Tom, what does that tell you (of course, he did the Greenbelt 25k yesterday-a race I did as a 50k and swore to never do again, he concurred). The director has the right idea-i.e. you pay one fee to reg, then if you want, $5 per shirt-long or short sleeve-with specific shirts for sale only to repeat runners of this ball breaker. GREAT idea.

Funny, people noticed our gang wearing the colors, were amazed we'd come "all the way from Queens" for this race. "All the way?" 45 mins? Not far at all. Proves everyone knows Alley Pond.

Had a blast, lots of good pix, they'll be below in days to come. For now, Elik grabbed a good one of me @ the LI 1/2, see below.

Mother's Day sucks. No getting around it. With Shebitch as the other gender (can't quite say "female," mental people have no gender), this entire weekend would've been a wash had it not been for Pret's high cut. Nice showing dear!!! Appreciated it. Oh yes, the races too. Real fun there (sick idea of "fun" n'est pas?).

good, not great, but good

had the 5k in King's Park esta manana. Yesterday was deliberating which to do. Thanks to our fantastic website, I had LOTS of choices. Really needed a race, as opposed to my Line. So, was split between the Greenbelt mudfest and this 5k in King's Park. Left the house, headed to Northport. Kings Park it was. Pouring, driving rain, news said it'd stop, we'll see. One of those days where you don't mind paying $5 more to have the escape clause of "hey, I didn't lose anything," should I turn around. There was always spinning @ the Y.

Fortunately, by 7 am it was misty, by 8 stopped, so, Kings Park it was. Nice. Very nice. No pressure, no one I knew there, didn't wear the colors-or so I thought. Got a call from Tom, he was doing the Greenbelt, and people think I'm nuts. He said lots of people, all similarly nuts.

This one was like a mini Cow Harbor, 1.6 miles of it WAS the CH course.

Did ok, good, not great. Didn't walk any of it, if it were a 10k I would've, but after doing a half last week, a 5k isn't so bad. Wait til manana-the Mauler IS a bastard. But THAT one you're glad to finish, let alone have a great time. Also, nice give-a-ways. No t-shirts, but those organic bags you see @ the supermarket. Nice touch.

Back to "no one there I knew." There's alot to be said for being pure of heart. Terry Bisogno was there, gave each other a wassup, he announced my name @ the finish, followed by "President of the Alley Pond Striders, who have a GREAT 5m race, you really should try to make it." Bless him. A while after, while waiting for the raffles, brought him a bottle of water, again "I just got a bottle of water from the President of the Alley Pond Striders who have a great 5m race @ the end of April....." Good thing I did this race, generate some buzz.

Funny doing this one for several reasons. THIS is the area in which I cut my teeth re: opening my heart/soul to a friend: Steve. A real bromance. This is the area I used to hang in every weekend golfing with him and his son, then doing the Veterans Day 4k. Really took me back. Good to be here. Now Steve's dead and I'm chronologically as well as mentally an adult. Still wiping away a tear @ the wonderful memories life has brought.

Miss you Steve, think of you daily.

(THIS was the guy who wrote "congratulations" on the funeral card the staff signed when my mother died. He knew I'd bust a gut. I did.)

by the hair on my chinny chin chin

juuuust squeaked through this week-a tough one. First, started with a disaster/clusterfuck, a.k.a. The Long Island Festival (!!!???) of Races. What a shipwreck. Never again.

THEN, recovering from the clusterfuck of the year, THEN couldn't run if I wanted to-rain and MORE rain.

By today, the backyard looked like the rainforest (the organic one, NOT the cafe), and I was jonesin' for my miles.

Got another St.Francis in today. Makes 2 days in a row, nice for this fucked week. Ran into a usual suspect who, too, did the Long Island Clusterfuck. He did the full-I admire him, although in 6 1/2 hours. Not I Lord, no freakin' thanks. Was just glad to get St.Francis in today.

Also, got to do the lawn before MORE rain comes tonight. SHIT!!!!!

Although, sit for this one, guess who got a ticket last night-RIGHT IN FRONT OF TOXICHOUSE??? Yes, It. Too funny. Grab an atheist. Didn't signal, cop was on It's ass toot suite. Add to this no insurance and lapsed reg. Heeee heeee. What's that about "what goes around...?"

good one

PRAY this is the last recovery day. Never again. This is crap. HATE not running, but don't wanna risk perm injury. Now I'm glad I always stuck to my guns: i.e. COULD run ALOT faster, but NOT as often. I LIKE to run. I NEED to run. My therapy. Thank G it's been raining.

Great bored meeting, we really do have a good bunch. Boogied on the membership meeting, Kwas was gonna take it for me-he pulled a no show-typical, but Lock and Ken took care of bidness.

Came home, HATE being away from Spike knowing he's unattended, but hey, gotta live. He now wants me to shave his head. Why? His mother got him a gay haircut, It has a thing about bangs, sick bitch. Spent an inordinate period telling him: yes, it IS a gay haircut, but no one in their right mind LIKES haircuts immediately thereafter (and, with his bowling ball head, shaving it would exacerbate his feelings). Hope he takes my word.

better

nearing the end of the recovery period from the half. Running a full didn't hurt this much, but then again, this was a RUNNING half, as opposed to a "walk breaks" marathon.

Core training tonight, felt good, good to be back in the swing of things.

Hung up on ME??? Never dealt with that, but it happens. Today was the first time I can ever remember. No one is immune from a bad temper. Though I can't honestly say I ever did that to anyone. Life is too short.

smoke 'em if you got 'em

so, day one of adolescence, a.k.a.the toke era. Spike got a positive on the thc test, denied smoking, claims he was in a car in which...yeah right. So today, he has no computer until his urine tests negative. Big prob: his lying. THAT'S unacceptable. Kids will experiment, he IS @ THAT age, but lying about it, or thinking I was THAT stupid, not cool at all. We'll see. Just say a prayer, they say the apple doesn't fall...

Or, you reap what you sow. How long have I been after It to not leave him unattended. He has, in fact, become a latch key kid. AND, it turns out his brotherfromanothermother consistently tests positive. NOW It tells me. At least he can't recreate It's cycle of abortions and addictions. God I hope this is merely a phase.

Miss running, hopefully manana. Funny how life closes in tighter around you when you don't.

recovery is good!!!

recovering from yesterday. THAT'S the good part of doing the half-less recovery time AND it's raining STILL. Couldn't run if I wanted to.

Doing the urine test @ home. Pregnant? No.

Yesterday, checked Spike's phone, his main peep said he stole a dime bag from his cousin, asked if Keith wanted to smoke it this am. So we had THAT talk. NO, not the fun one, the drug one. So of course I came home with instant urine tests. Either he tests positive for drugs, or he's pregnant. We'll see.

*** Got a call from Deb, n' SHE accuses ME of popping in and out???!!! Turns out she was @ Eisenhower looking for me and her cousin. Wow. You're never really as alone as you think you are. AND, to come out in THAT weather said alot. She said Terry didn't see me (I was ONLY wearing the AP colors, sticking out like a green thumb), but he must've been looking for bibs.

SEEMED like a good idea @ the time

so, woke up, rain. Damn. OK, worst case: do the 10k, but let's stay positive.

Get to parking, misty, better.

Most I speak with claim the rain'll hold off 'til noon. Right. Good thing I'm a cynic.

Race time, rain, not heavy but enough. OK, no biggie, leave the race belt in the vehicle, pack 3 gels, only enough for the half. Give it my best: better to do a good half than a crappy full.

Ran into the Eliks in the parking/bathroom area. She was doing the half, he the full.

Saw Lock, Christina and John. John was aiming for 2 hrs, the way he took off I'm sure he made it. Lock was looking to do 3:50-4. If he didn't I'd be shocked.

Ran well, felt good. THAT'S the beauty of training for a full-a half is easy my comparison. No walking, nice pace. Gun time: 2:02. SURE I broke 2 hours. Happy.

Ran into Deb @ S N S. Actually surprised to be ambulating that well @ that stage.
Right knee feels sore, but hey, sore is good.

and yes...medals ARE given for the half. Wish I'd known this years ago.

(STILL fucking raining!!! grrrrr).

******NEVER AGAIN WILL I DO THIS RACE. From the clusterfuck of the expo to the disaster of the race itself. "Disaster?" you ask? Yes/ My time didn't register. Nothing. No splits, nothing at all, nothing. As if it didn't happen. Ran well, ran hard, consistent, and IT DIDN'T FUCKING REGISTER IN THE RESULTS. Had a gun time of 2:02, a net time well under-how do I know? Crossed the line with 2 NHP peeps, I asked one of them to show me her watch: 1:56+. Amazing. Ran one of my best halfs and it didn't count. Fuck me.

And who calls to end the night? Tom. Bless him, called to ask how it went. If it weren't for Tom and Pret I dunno where I'd be.

the thing of it is

signed up to do the LI Marathon, a.k.a. the most boring run on earth. But...here it comes...do I REALLY wanna run bored outta my skull in the rain? Of course not, so, if it rains, doing the half. If it rains ALOT, the 10k. That's my story n' I'm stickin' to it.

Lock and his daughter are doing the full, John the half, Nella the half. Tom, none of the above Still dunno what I'll end up doing. All depends on the weather.

Next time I won't prereg. Mistake for this one.

Spent the day first @ the Y, sauna; then with the peeps @ AP, bless them. They are my center, scary ain't it? Connected with my heart, ok, so far so good. Then off to Citi Field, WCBS was having a thing there. Way cool stadium. Then, back to the expo (ANYTHING but home-It was still there), then to the movies "fighting," not bad-better than X men. Finally back to Toxichouse. Text from football dad, bless him, he remembers. Texts from my heart, thank G, was starting to feel weirder than usual-it sucks to do such a run and have no one on the homefront there for you, much less take notice, but it is what it is. THAT's the prob with this one-no hometown buzz-Long Island could care less, "family" doesn't exist, and Spike is @ his brotherfromanothermother's.

At least the house is quiet.

Crossed fingers for the morning.

that didn't hurt a bit

still reeling from the bullshit @ the LI Marathon expo yesterday-really the singularly poorest run clusterfuck I've ever seen, balanced by Polansky joining the Wearers of the Green. Cool or what??? When you can get the Prez of a brother group to join, you've accomplished something. Really says alot for the Striders. WAAAAAY cool. Again, G to the rescue (He must get awfully frustrated watching us go crazy over nothing).

Took the day off to register for the NYC half, and attend the US Open training. Ok, here we go: try to log onto the NYRR site-after prior year's server overloads, expected the worst. Surprise, it DIDN'T totally suck! Nice. First couple of attempts, server overloaded (hang in there, remember the old days before speeddial-trying to order concert tox from Ticketron?) patience...patience....Third try, I'm in. But, SHIT need a user name and password. After prior probs, I'd e mailed my info to my personal e mail, punch it up, I'm IN!!! Cool.

Good news: I'm in. Bad news: $65 friggin' bucks!!! Better the NYRR than Shebitch. And again, how much would you pay to run through a closed down Times Square. Nice.

...I thought love was only true in fairy tales...............