Being there... with bells on!

 Saturday, December 10, 2016

Well, it's two weeks since my fall and injury. Two weeks of healing. Good progress on that front. Earlier in the week the coach had proposed that this weekend, rather than a standard training run, we do the Jingle Jog, a fund raiser for a couple of schools in the area. It was to be in a local park, untimed, you could do 1, 2, or 3 loops of the park, constituting 1.1 mile, 2.4 miles, or 3.7 miles.

Training run *would have been* 10.5 miles, had I not been injured. As it was, at this point in my recovery, I was very happy to complete the 3.7, and bailed right after to come home and warm up. Hot shower felt wonderful!

You see, unlike those folks running in FLORIDA today, I was looking at 24F at 9 a.m. start time, with enough of a breeze to put the wind chill index at 15F. Brrrrr! Especially Brrrr as this was in a park, with no indoor spot to be warm right up to race time or to re-warm following. The 30 minutes or so of standing around waiting to start was the WORST part of it.

Once we got moving, though, no problems. I was wearing two layers on the bottom: my good running tights, augmented by knee sleeves to cover up the holes my fall tore in the knees, topped with my Wild Turkey Chase sweat pants. Four layers on the top: base layer tank with built in sports bra, topped by long sleeved running shirt, a quilted vest, and my warmest winter running jacket. On the head, my ninja face mask (honestly, I can see the advantages of Muslim headgear in this weather!), and a knit cap on top of that. Since I tore my new running gloves in the fall two weeks ago, I substituted last year's solution: two pair of gloves, including the ones with the windbreaker mitten covers, and Hot Hands chemical warmers inside the gloves.

Wool socks and my good ordinary running shoes were good for the feet. Looped around my waist were the bells pictured above. On the wrist with the RoadID bracelet, I had attached five smaller jingle bells using dental floss as the thread. Bad plan... those bells managed to fall off during the course of the run. I had seen other bells on the path in the second and third loops, so I'm not the only runner who was dropping jingles on the jog!

Still, those bells on my waist? Had me sounding like "Bobtail" in the Christmas tune. "Bell's on Barb's Waist Ring" somehow doesn't have quite the same cadence, does it, but I wasn't going to take the obvious match to "Bobtail", either. Anyway, in the third mile I mentioned to my coach that I felt a bit like a sleigh horse with them jingling in time to my steps. He commented back that it was a very consistent sound... I must have a steady pace.

We ran faster than we should for a long run, but this wasn't a long run. We kind of called it speed work, if you can call a 10:13 mile speed work... but for run/walk/run it's a very respectable speed work pace!

Coach let me set the pace and decide on the walk intervals, and being cold, I didn't take as many. They were all 30 second walk breaks.

In short... very glad to be back out there! Next "official" run will be New Year's Eve / New Year's Day "Last Run / First Run", with training in between now and then.

Hope you're all living the very best Saturday December 10th, 2016 you can. Because as with each day that comes along, it's the only one we'll ever get!

Baby Steps, did I say?

 Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Thank God for the existence of support structure! We all need it, even those of us the most independent.  I have three sisters, a son, and a daughter in law in town. All have been checking up on me, since I live alone, and they have been made aware of my situation with the fall last Saturday.

I stuck the most recent photo, this morning's mug shot, out on my status: Here it is again for once I take it off the status.

The two days in between looked worse, probably about the same as each other, as the bruising progressed. The most disturbing (to me) part of this recovery was the nausea... which is a symptom of concussion. My body seemed to tolerate solid food Saturday after I got home, but starting mid-morning Sunday, not so much, and the rejection of everything but water began. This lasted through Sunday and Monday, even clear fluids not being well tolerated. Last night I got down about half a cup of green tea, and it stayed. This morning, you would not believe how good apple juice and saltines tasted.

The scale is indicating dehydration, reaching bottom scream weight this morning, so it's a good thing the body is healing, it doesn't have much to lose, as my non-Sparking sister commented when we discussed last night.

The apple juice and saltines are not part of my normal fare. I was rescued by sister SPINNINGJW, who brought them over.

I've been visited by all three sisters and my son, who checked for other concussive symptoms. Both SPINNINGJW and the mythical son have some medical training, and all the sisters have been Girl Scouts. But Jen and Jon especially know what to check for, particularly in the area of brain injury... so at various visits folks checked my pupil sizes, my balance, my temperature, etc.

Stayed home from work yesterday, and will again today until I'm sure the body is tolerating at the least bland foods. And will gradually introduce food as I heal. Stitches are slated to come out on Thursday afternoon. So, yes, Spark gang, I am recovering, albeit slower than the patient ever wants!

Why is it that most of us patients, aren't? Sense of humor intact.

I limited screen time significantly the past couple of days, out of deference to those concussive symptoms... that's the protocol these days. This morning, feeling much, much better, so I'm actually playing catch up with subscribed blogs.

Hope that all of you are out there making the best decisions you can with the choices you are given!  Because let me tell you from the inside of this recovering self: having an underlying level of health and fitness is SO worth it when you add trauma to the picture. I think that LINDAKAY228 said much the same when she had her stroke. Being in good physical condition surely assisted her recovery. So, despite the fact that my injury happened while running, I'm not going to stop being active! I may dial it back for a while, listening carefully to what my body is ready for. Being active, and choosing the right nutrition is part of what keeps me in the shape to recover when things go sideways.

Life is good. I am grateful. And I value every one of you Sparkpeople who are looking in on me, and cheer for you on your own healthy living journeys!

This was NOT how it was supposed to go!

 Saturday, November 26, 2016

Yeah, that's me. Note to self: head is NOT supposed to make contact with concrete. Note to others: I don't think the head did, but the sunglasses dug into my eyelid, digging quite a significant hole, as you can see. The sunglasses? Ruined!

This happened about 2 1/2 miles into what was supposed to be a 9 mile run. Fortunately, I was NOT running solo. My coach was with me. And a good Samaritan stopped and helped staunch the blood. She also provided transport back to the cars, where coach would not let me drive, he took me home at my request.

But as soon as I saw myself in a mirror, I knew I needed to get to an ER and have that "hole" addressed.  

My non-Sparking sis came to the rescue... transporting me and staying and keeping me company while the medical folks looked me over. And stitched me up:

Pretty stitching! Two interior, four exterior, on the eyelid. They also did a CAT scan to ensure I didn't damage the brain. No concerns there, and they let me go with instructions to go back to my primary care physician for follow up and to get the stitches (exterior) removed in five days.

I even retrieved the car and brought it home (not that far, and I was careful... I was not under any drugs, other than the topical they gave to numb the skin for the stitching.)

Now I'm icing, and on Tylenol (minimum dose) as needed... which so far has been just that one pill. And the doctor pronounced me a tough old lady, and blessed me to run again if I felt up to it, as soon as tomorrow. I'm taking a wait and see attitude about that.

The running jacket I put in a cold water rinse before heading to the ER... and considering the front had been pretty much covered in blood? Look how clean it came out, with just that cold water rinse!

Meantime, I'm fine, really I am. But taking no chances. Doing as the doctor ordered.

Hope whether your day has gone how it's supposed to or not, you're doing the best you can, and today I'm grateful for my level of fitness, which should see me through this, as it does so much. And for that level of fitness? Guess what site has been my motivation central?

Darn right it's SparkPeople.com! Spark on my friends, and be safe.

Denouement, a.k.a. the trip home - Chapter 6

Friday, April 22, 2016

Picture it: 2 a.m. my "home" time, getting up and showering, making sure the last things are packed, dressing for the travel. Getting down to the lobby of the hotel about 3 a.m. my "home" time. I have done the "super Spring forward" thing by traveling East. So my eyes *might* be just a little glazed over.

I am an early riser, mind you... I'm up between 4 and 5 a.m. most days. But with the fullness of the weekend and the short sleep? I admit I was kind of sluggish mentally, Tuesday morning early. The desk clerk asked me if I needed a cab, I said, "I have a van coming." I sat down to wait, pulling out the paperwork for the van driver.

On my "home" time, it would have been 3:10 a.m. when the white van pulled up in front of the hotel and the driver got out and tapped on the door, wagged his fingers at me. I went out the door, he put my bag in the back of the van, and opened the door.

"That's odd", a sluggish part of my brain thought. "The van driver on the way in asked if I was me, verified my identity and wanted the voucher." I shrugged and buckled in. Driver asks, "Where are we going today?"

The sluggish brain does another "That's odd... the driver on the way in already knew where I was going..." But I automatically answer, "Logan" and the airline name. While my sluggish brain is still musing on the oddity, a few blocks later, the meter registers on me. I have purloined someone else's taxi!

What to do? I still have a short schedule, I need to get there in time for a 6 a.m. (Boston time) flight. So I sit back and accept that I'm going to pay for a taxi ride and the shuttle ride I already paid for would go by the wayside. And the poor person whose cab that was? Hope they either hook up with the shared van in my place or somehow manage to get where they need to be, too!

However, this kind of explains the kind of gaffe that can happen when you are NOT paying attention! Had it NOT been a legitimate taxi? You could write novels about kidnappings! Wake up, already, Barb!

Anyway, got to the airport, looked at my phone: missed call. The van driver. I called him back, explained what happened, "no problem," says he. Apparently these things happen. It's Marathon weekend in Boston.

Mistake number 2 from the sluggish brain... not noticing the TSA pre-checked icon on my electronic boarding pass. I could have gone through a shorter line. But no, glassy eyed, I stood through the long one. At least they didn't make me take off my shoes... the advantage of that little icon.

Got to the gate. Quite a few teal jackets (see MOBYCARP's blogs for the explanation of the significance of teal - this year's color) and also Boston Athletic Association jackets from prior years. The gate agent asks as we are getting ready to board who all ran the marathon on Monday. Several hands went up. She asks all those within the area to give them a round of applause. Then as we started to board, she announced "This is a one-day special... anyone who ran the marathon yesterday may board at any time".

In fact, this is a very practical thing. Marathons take a lot out of the human body. Some of these folks could be pretty stiff!

Food on a funny schedule? Yep. I had an orange standing and waiting to board. I accepted full test coffee on the airplane (small cups), and tomato juice, and even ate the pretzels. I waited for my connecting airport where I had about an hour and a half to seek out my yogurt and a banana to "complete" breakfast.

On to the connecting gate. Since I had time, I walked the 3000 steps from one gate to the other. It felt good to be stretching the legs.

Next mis-adventure, not in my control: they boarded us on the second plane, taxied along, then took a detour to try to "fix" a heating element in a cockpit window. Yikes! Back to the gate. They happen to have an extra plane, at a nearby gate... they move us all. Since it's the same model, we keep same seat assignments, get back on, and on our way we go. Smoothest equipment replacement I've experienced in all my years of travel. Only delayed arrival time by about 38 minutes. And since my destination was "home"... no sweat.

The cats survived. A bit wild, they destroyed a mini-nerf football and knocked down one of my recycle bins since my musical sister's last visit, but no worse for wear. Sis left me notes indicating when (which days) the cats went out and came back in. Prisoner stayed out in a thunderstorm (nothing new there).  Rubia mostly was in. Also expected. 

Ahhh! Travel is wonderful. So is coming home. As I arrived home, it was with a great sense of gratitude.  This trip is going in the "worth it" memory box. It so fits with the things I wrote on the maintenance advantages list. Life is easier at "home weight". It just is. I cannot have this life ease if I go nuts with foodlike substances, or go back to couch potato status. This trip, even though I was not "eventing" myself, reminded me that even to "be there" at the special moments in my family's life... I need to take care of my body. It *is* worth it!

So... here comes today's pitch... let's go out and take care of our bodies on this, the only April 22, 2016 we will ever see! Because we're worth it.

P.S. Happy Earth day (I still kind of grit my teeth when I say that... for me, it's Happy Arbor Day on this date, no matter when Nebraska shifts it to a different date to give me a three-day weekend!) 

Perceived Sunday becomes Marathon Monday - chapter 4

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

It did not take long for me to remember that it was Monday and a Holiday at that, in Massachusetts.  Because they make a HUGE deal of Patriots' Day... in fact, at the finish line, they were filming on this year's Marathon Monday for the upcoming movie of that name (Patriots' Day).

TV coverage warned everyone of when things would be shut down... you'd best not try to cross that route!  I did indeed rise EARLY to get myself over to the VIP lounge, where breakfast was available for the runners who had purchased the "premium package" (Kevin did)... see? It's big business, this Marathon!  The Premium package he bought gave him access to the bus right up to the time his wave loaded into the corrals at the starting line in Hopkinton. Which is a good thing, considering they had to get to the starting line several hours before the actual start of his wave!

At the lounge, the Jeff you've met before and Kevin had a bit of that breakfast.

Being frugal, I did not partake even though as my runner's "plus one" I could have. I had my soaked oats and banana back at the hotel and I didn't intend breakfast until after I saw them off. I didn't want my prepared breakfast to spoil and go to waste.

The other Jeff showed up a little later and I got hugs from him, too. Before we knew it, it was 5:30 and time for them to line up and load onto the busses.

I caught them standing in line and made them pose, here we have left to right Jeff P, Jeff H, and MOBYCARP, a.k.a. Kevin. I'm still not sure which Jeff is Fast Jeff and which is Young Jeff, I kind of suspect that we're looking at Fast, Young and Brother (sounds like a law firm?)

Here are the busses, about to head out... note the sky is just starting to lighten. His wave won't start until 10:25 a.m. local time.

Once the busses pulled out, I went back inside to refresh my decaff before heading back to my hotel, where I had that breakfast, showered and debated on what to wear to watch the race finish. It was a balancing act between making it easier for the security check points ahead, and being warm enough when the wind was predicted to kick in. Here's what I settled on:

Meantime, STRONGDAWG, a.k.a. Laura was set to arrive at the hotel about 9 a.m. The front desk called to let me know of her arrival, and we prepped the rest of the way. She was carrying no bags (well prepared) but I had my clear plastic bag from Fenway, and in it I packed two apples and two of my baggies of nuts, 'cause I figured we'd at least need a snack in that four hours of waiting.

Between the time I went to see the runners off and the time Laura and I set off to wend our way to the finish line (and we did do some wending), they had blocked off the end of the block my hotel sits on... and we needed to go through security check point. This was a loose one... they saw clear plastic and no bags for Laura, and we got through THAT one. Then when we turned down toward Boylston Street, there was another, with a LONG line. We waited and chatted until we figured out that the grandstand was "invitation only/VIP" access (we're talking Spectator VIP... invited by the race sponsors). So we went back up the street, moved down to the next one... same deal. Three blocks down from where we originally turned, we

found the "general public" check point.

They flagged my clear bag as "Inspected" and we proceeded to what turned out to be a primo spot... across from the UNO restaurant on Boylston, about a block to a block and a half from the finish line. In fact, if you have a morbid sense of history, we were across the street from where one of the bombs went off in 2013... there was a wreath laying in that block on the other side of the street.

Here we are, sporting our local hats, toward the beginning of our spectator standing stint (which was an endurance event in itself, as you may have already read in Laura's blog).

And this was our spot, before the crowds got too thick, I was catching the police presence, which varied as the race progressed... these are just walking to whatever post, reminding people to keep all the trash out of the street (especially before the hand bikes came, but you don't want runners having to dodge coffee cups when they are almost done with 26.2 miles!

It was some time later that we determined that the signs we made were worthless at that point on the race course... the runners at that point have their eye on the prize... they can see the finish arch. The thing you really need to root them down Boylston to the finish? Water to keep your throat from giving out on you and a strong voice!

It was before they even started when we were lining up, which is why we got such a good spot, and even then we were two or three people back from the rail. We made friends with those around, of course. It's what you do. We found the couple who were there for their daughter, who was doing her first Boston. The gal and her son at the actual rail? Veterans! Their husband/father was running his 7th. Oh, yeah, she was clearly a veteran... and runs shorter distances, so she and I had some notes to swap about training uninjured / racing uninjured. She had read the Jeff Galloway run/walk/run literature, and said that her

husband uses that, too. (That bit is for SLENDERELLA61!)

I had loaded my phone to get text alerts for the progress of my brother, my running coach, and my triathlete s-hero. We didn't start using those until after we heard the announcer at the finish line broadcast the start of the waves. The gal at the front showed me how to access the BAA runner tracking on my phone using Chrome... and I picked the three names plus the daughter of the couple beside us and made them "my runners". Thus we there on site were doing the same thing remote folks across the world were doing to track progress!

As we got the alerts, Laura was updating the Sparkverse in her status of MOBYCARP's progress! Which is good, because if you try to do too much with the phone, you miss what's going on around you, and I really wanted to be present in that scene! It was also good I had someone with me, because y'all know my little bladder can't take four hours. I was pleased that I made do with just one trip "out" to find facilities... fortunately, the hotel with the VIP lounge was only a block and a half away, down a side street!

I brought back water & another decaf (to warm my hands, I had neglected to bring gloves). Taking that bathroom break, though, caused me to miss the first trio of handbike finishers... who made it wheel to wheel to the line! Laura saw it, though, and as I was coming back, I saw probably finisher 4 - 6 while I was trying to re-find Laura. Turns out about 4 more bodies deep had been added to the press by then.Time passes and we shout for everyone who comes along. Since they start in waves, we had little clue about when the "real" winners of various divisions were coming, except from what we could catch of the announcers at the finish line... and the shouts of the crowd sometimes make that hard to hear.

But when I got the text that my running coach Eddie got to the 40K mark, I did the math and realized "holy moley, he's going to finish in less than 10 minutes" and I wriggled my way to the rail while the wife/mom/son team kept others from crowding in. Eddie was actually featured on one of the banners on Beacon Street:

They had invited registered runners to submit a photo of themselves running (obviously the photos are from many other races) and chose I think it was 24 to feature on those banners. He submitted one on a whim, never thinking he'd win that kind of a spot... but there it is! In the news interview he did, he called himself a "regular Joe"... I think not! I screamed as loud as I could as he cruised by on his way to a 2:54 finish!

Mama up front let us all know that she was very protective of that rail spot... she didn't mind letting people in if their runner was "imminent", but doggone it, she earned that spot by her early arrival. And I agree... if you showed up at 8:30 a.m. for a race that starts at 10, 26.2 miles away? You *did* earn that spot! Still, she was very generous letting those whose runners were faster than hers and finishing share space, trying at the same time to stay next to her son!

Now being at the rail, I retrieved my sign (the one you've seen in prior blogs held by me and by Janet) and hung it over the rail while waiting for Kevin's finish, which came about half an hour later. I described the singlet he was wearing to the little clump around us, and they helped me look after he had reached that 40K mark. At 40K, by the way, the runners will be seeing the Citgo sign (as shown in my Friday afternoon blog). From that sign, there are 1.2 miles left to the finish line.

When Kevin came by, he was totally focused on finishing, and I'm sure he didn't hear individual voices, but he, like all of them, heard the crowd. Which reminds me, across the street someone was holding a sign with the name Kevin on it, I'm sure for some other Kevin, but my brother told me later that this "other Kevin" must have had a similar pace, for he heard his name shouted at various places along the route... "could have been Kevin, or Evan, or something else similar" he said, but if you don't think a runner can hear and be encouraged / pushed by hearing a spectator shouting it, you would be mistaken. I know *I* have picked up my pace when I hear someone call my name (which they may have read on my bib in

races where they put your name on it).

He finished in 3:23:01, which is good enough to re-qualify for Boston next year. I will leave it in his capable hand to blog about his decision making process, because he would not be able to register until September... he has that long to think about it.

And I think I've rattled on enough for a good chapter 4... but I'm not done yet... I'm leaving you at the point at which Laura and I backed away from the rail to give others whose runners had not yet crossed a better view. To be continued...

After the ball is over... Chapter 5

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

I'm going to rewind a bit before continuing the account of Marathon Monday after we left the spectator spot to mention a few of the heart-warming things we saw. They are probably the same ones you saw on TV yourselves, but we were there and observed them first hand:

The young man who collapsed and was carried by two other runners the remaining block and a half (he was heat-stroking)... the runners helping each other was heartening.

We saw Team Hoyt finish. This is a man pushing his son, who suffers from ALS, in a wheel chair, the entire 26.2 miles. They are fund-raising for a charity that supplies equipment to sufferers of ALS. The father practically tears up in interviews, and having been through the ALS experience with my sister in law, I totally get it. The son has so far been living with the disease for five years. My sister in law only survived a year and a few months beyond her initial diagnosis. I had seen team Hoyt interviewed on TV the night before and felt privileged to see them go by, soon to finish.

We saw several of the unit that runs Boston in full military battle dress uniform, down to the boots. Laura told me there was quite a bit of discussion after 2013 whether it was secure to let them continue to do so.  They won... and got huge cheers as each one came by. That's the only group I got a photo of... especially for PMRUNNER, says Laura!

Speaking of which, I very much want to thank/acknowledge Laura for coming down and adding her local expertise and history to my own Marathon Monday experience. From a hand on my elbow to keep me from taking a wrong turn to knowing the history related to the military unit... it was nice having a "local" guide beyond the media coverage!

I did not get photos of much of the race action because... heavens it's hard to get moving shots. These folks have the finish line in sight they are NOT going to slow down just to suit my slow reflexes, among other things. The other issue: my phone was sucking down the power with the text alerts and checking on progress of my runners. In fact, by the time we left the railing... it was down to an alarming 2%!

What's bad about THAT, remember two blogs ago? We rely on those phones to locate one another once the runner finishes!

Laura and I headed over to the Sheraton, where the VIP lounge was, to use the facilities, and I plugged the phone in briefly. We wanted Laura and Kevin to meet... I mean, up to this time, I'd been with each of them, but independently. So we were in a guessing game. I had texted Kevin that we'd meet at the agreed upon post-race venue... but with my power gone and the phone off, had no confirmation he'd got the message.

I was also a bit worried about my Omaha triathlete friend... her splits were not what they usually are... she was not having a good day. She had posted on Facebook after she arrived in Boston that she'd come down with flu-like symptoms & I'd been praying she got rest & better... at this point I was praying for her to persevere and finish. With the phone off, I was blind as to her progress.

Always have a plan B, folks! Technology can fail. Lesson learned. A half marathon, we don't usually have this issue. A full? Different story!

Anyway, I was COLD by now. The breeze was stiff coming inland. Even though I knew that Kevin would eventually have to come back to the VIP Lounge to pick up his gear, I had sent him that text, so Laura and I headed back to my hotel where I changed back into my jeans.

Remember THIS outfit from Saturday? Here's Janet's shot of me standing on the finish line while everybody still had access:

Contrast with Kevin crossing the line (professional photo, he bought this one). He's the runner in maroon with GVH on the singlet:

Anyway the trick at this point was to find one another. Even though there was a "family meeting area", I didn't have it figured out. And our last communication was to meet at a watering hole called "Fire & Ice".

After much meandering to get through the security check points, we eventually found our way over there... the athletes could take short cuts... the rest of us, not, and we had to walk about four extra blocks, and ask questions of the volunteers for directions of just how to get to that specific place.

We got there, but no Kevin. We did find Jeff. Laura bought a round and we toasted Jeff's race. I found a spot to plug in the phone and while it was charging, made the connection. Kevin, while we were going back to get ME warm, had headed to the VIP lounge to get HIS clothing to get warm! So we missed each other, having been in the same place but at different times.

All's well that ends well, though, and we did get Laura and Kevin in the same space... WITH his medal showing, yet:

Shortly after that, Laura really needed to head home so we bade her farewell. Kevin and I went through our checklist of what's most important. Feeding me seemed to be it... went through mental check list, and opted for the little Italian place right in my hotel. We both ate (he was on the see-food diet after his run... I even talked him into a couple of bites of the sandwich that looked too big for just me). Then we chatted a while longer before sending him off to gently walk the mile and a half back to his hotel.

For those of you who are fitbit trackers? He had a step count close to 60,000 that day. I had 14,000 as a spectator. We both decided we needed quiet time to assimilate the experience, so opted NOT to do the after party at Fenway. Instead I went upstairs and packed for the trip, went to bed, got up early, and started my journey back the next morning early, but I'll save that for a final chapter!

And with that, I shall bid my Spark friends good-night... because it's getting to be that time.  Rest well, and tomorrow, it's back to work for me!

Second Saturday - Chapter 3

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 

Yes, I'm typing this from the air, folks.

Cha-ching! I splurged and bought the Wi-Fi access for one flight.

Sunday (or second Saturday, as I called it in the first of the series) started with the text/phone call from our hero, MOBYCARP. He had arrived at his hotel, located the Citgo sign from there, and was ready to walk the remainder of the route before heading over to packet pick up. It didn't open until 9.

Being me, I volunteered to meet him at the finish line. And we found one another in that madhouse via the modern day normal method. Show up, pull out your cell phones, and talk one another to a meeting point. This is important to remember, boys and girls, for a later lesson related to having a back up plan for when you run out of bread crumbs...

Happy to see one another, we proceeded to the Hynes Convention Center, along with thousands of our friends (yep, instant friends by shared experiences), making our way through security check, and standing in the first of what would become MANY lines of the day/weekend. Here he is after they opened it up and we wound our way to the front:

Yep, he looked like he fits with this crowd.

Interestingly enough, apparently, I do too

One of the fun games of the day before, in this huge venue with 30,000 runners on tap was looking at clumps of people and playing the "which is the runner? Are they all runners, or do we have cheerleaders, too?"

After collecting the essentials, we did cruise through the expo but didn't make any purchases. Lines too long, merchandise available in other venues and not worth the expo discount to wait in that line...

We proceeded to my hotel, where I provided healthy snacks for us both... I had an extra apple and yogurt and nuts... I told y'all before, he pretty much eats the same as I do, he just needs more of it for his 6 foot frame and marathon training regimine. Half the battle is getting enough high-grade calories into a dude who is running!

Then he connected with a running buddy of his that I'd seen on line but never met, and off we went to meet them. I met one of the Jeffs (he has two, one he calls "fast Jeff" and one he calls "young Jeff", and I am SO confused as to which is which) and HIS personal cheering crew, a wife and daughter.

If you have been following my status photos you've already seen the one of me with Kevin and Jeff from that same meet up. The runners did what runners do: talked about their race day plans, other runners they know and their race day plans... it is a way to set them in our minds and calm ourselves, for those of you who do not do events. I totally "get it".

The two groups split to go search out lunch, and Kevin still needed to check in to his hotel, which wasn't an option until 3 p.m. But it was MY lunch time, so we picked an option that was known and safe for both our plans... yep, back to that Subway, because it was on the way from my hotel to his. Then he and I went our separate ways. I went back to my room and napped, he went and checked in then did his two mile preview run of the tail end of the course (the walk in the morning didn't count). When he was back and showered, he texted that he'd figured out how to take the T to the pre-race supper, and I was rested, so that's what we did for supper... sorry, no photos.

Pasta is classic the night before a big race. Then it was back to our rooms and sleep as best he could, because he had to be back over to the bus loading at 5 a.m. Being me, 5 a.m. Eastern is 4 a.m. my time, and I'm awake, so I planned to be there to see him safely onto the shuttle on "Sunday" a.k.a. "Marathon Monday".

... to be continued...

The blogs will continue... but a brief break for Travel...

The blogs will continue... but a brief break for Travel...

Originally published Tuesday, April 19, 2016

I'm up in the pre-dawn, showered and packed up for the return trip. Still assimilating the experience.  Today's goal: get home safe. Depending on how that works out, I may even go run with the group this evening (we're in taper, so an easy 4... and after all, our main coach-man Eddie was busy running Boston yesterday... and YES! I saw him run down Boylston!)

This has been an awesome, awesome trip... and I had just a few minutes to spare before I have to the tablet away, check out, and meet my shuttle ride to start the return trip. Thanks to all the locals for making this event one that people come back for... year, after year, after year. I can see why they do.

MOBYCARP quipped to me at the pre-race dinner... "and you said the Good Life Halfsy was an extroverted race!" Yeah, this one tops that.

And now I'll wrap this up so it gets out there... to remind us all to get out there and live this April 19, 2016 as though it were the only one we'd ever see... because it is!

Saturday #1, Chapter 2

Monday, April 18, 2016

As we were tramping about Boston, OVERWORKEDJANET and I realized that we were ready to have some lunch. After checking out menus and availability of seating along Boylston Street, she spotted this little place down a side street:

Awesome choice, Janet. Turned out they had a Greek salad topped with (I hope she'll add the appropriate adjective for the spicing/preparation as I'm having a "senior moment") chicken, beef or lamb.  We both picked this as our lunch, mine was "undressed" because that's how I like it. It was a big salad, with about twice the meat I needed, so I did leave about half of the meat behind... I have ceased my membership in the clean plate club. It is truly odd for a former compulsive eater, but between being around runners and being around Sparkers, I think the healthy eating routine is pretty entrenched. Yes, I have lapses, but this is what I return to. This is what they all mean by "lifestyle change, not diet."

Anyway, this is more the kind of thing to do on vacation: find the unique little places that are local to where you are traveling, and I was grateful to have company for my culinary adventures on Saturday!

After lunch we kept on walking, and I took Janet on a walking tour of some of the places I had run on Friday. Since she's a fan of architecture, we tried to hit the areas that might be interesting due to the buildings and parks. We got over to the Charles River Esplanade where that day, it had some white caps due to the windy conditions. And the rowing shells had been replaced by sailboats!

At some point we headed back town-ward, exploring streets with small shops, more architecture and sights to see. It got to be 4 p.m. and Laura (STRONGDAWG) made contact and we arranged where to meet her. At that point we were back at a corner of the Boston Common, very near the T, so we didn't even head back to the hotel. Janet helped me navigate purchasing my Charlie ticket, which turned out to be good training for "second Saturday".

We met Laura at the Cambridge T station, and it turned out the dinner restaurant we had pre-selected had too long a line, so we all packed back onto the T. I insisted on another selfie, lest we forget to document it photographically... and here in all our dissheveled glory, we are waiting for the train.

Where did we go? Well of course to Harvard! So forever after, we three can say we went to Harvard together (yes, it still takes very little to amuse me!) Laura pointed out the offices of Dewey, Cheatem and Howe, long time known to many of us from Car Talk! Next selfie, from the John Harvard statue, where we all touched his boot (apparently for luck?) can be found in STRONGDAWG's blog.

8/30/2021, I have now copied STRONGDOG's blog, with her permission, and you can access it here:  Dawg Days Spark Meet Edition

After tramping around for a bit as a threesome, we settled on a Thai place. Janet and I looked at the menu and bingo, once again settled on the same entree. A tofu (again I seek the spicing term). When the plates arrived, they were HUGE, of course. I divided the plate into 1/3 and 2/3, turned the 1/3 toward myself and declared "THIS is my food", then indicated the 2/3, "this is NOT my food". I thought about WATERMELLEN's Charlie, I did!

I ate only my designated portion, not wanting to put the potential of doing MOBYCARP's 2 mile course preview with him (turned out I didn't, it was a point at which he needed to be doing some solo prep... very important to a runner). But it was important not to weigh myself down.

So, let's briefly review food for first Saturday: I had three meals with no snacks between! The meals were a little larger than my norm. But I certainly did not die from hunger!

And in the course of the day (since OWJ asked in her blog yesterday)... 34,400 plus steps. Of which at least 17,000 OWJ was along for the journey.

Back to hotel, snuggle in for the night... and we shall continue the next blog with Second Saturday, or the arrival of MOBYCARP to pick up his packet and all that pre-race jazz!

Now go out there and Spark a great Marathon Monday! It's the only April 18th, 2016 we'll ever get!

Weekend seems like two Saturdays and a Sunday - Chapter 1

Sunday, April 17, 2016

I started a blog early this morning, but it got eaten alive by the tablet being slow. And then today got busy.  Since I normally race on Sundays and Saturday is packet pickup, tagging along with MOBYCARP on his necessary tasks today felt like a second Saturday. Tomorrow, even though it is a Monday, will feel like a Sunday morning to me.

That said, "FIRST SATURDAY" was SparkMeet Saturday. What a day! It started when I left the hotel thinking I'd stop at Walgreen's for sunscreen and proceed to the meeting point, maybe picking up coffee on the way.

Oops! Change of plans... encountered about 10,000 5K runners on the way:

So I followed along and shouted encouragement... it's what one does. Followed them down to their finish line which turned out to be pretty close to our planned Spark Meet up point.

Since we didn't plan to meet until 10 a.m., the race had time to fully finish before this group of online friends took our first selfie of the day (it was not the last)...

Left to right, that's Lauren, an online friend from another venue, OVERWORKEDJANET, JANISMKW, and lil ol me.

As a foursome we had coffee and yakked. And walked across Boston Common and yakked.  

And took a ride on the Swan Boats in the Boston Public Garden. It was their first day in operation for the year.

We hunted down the statues of the characters from "Make Way for Ducklings".

After that, we bid farewell to JANISMKW and Lauren. I am so glad that they came down and joined us, for that time and to share this weekend. They probably would otherwise not have seen any of the

Marathon weekend "downtown"... they came for the chance to meet me! I feel honored, really... because I know how upside down a city can get for events of this magnitude. Thanks again!

And then... enter the OWJ and OKM show. Both of us are walkers, ok? We came back and hung out at my hotel for a little bit, where Janet showed her rooting colors, holding the sign for MOBYCARP.

Here is one of me holding the same sign after I made it Friday evening.

Then we started tramping around Boston. We visited the finish line, and Janet took some photos which she posted in her blog.  She sent me one of me standing on the finish line via text, but I will have to wait until I get home to have the right tools to transfer it onto Spark.

Anyway, this is getting long, and I need to sleep SOME because tomorrow at o-dark hundred,

MOBYCARP will be boarding a shuttle to go to the START line, and 26.2 miles later, I intend to be at that finish line for him. ... more to follow...

Dawgs Days, Spark Meet edition

Author:  STRONGDAWG

Originally published Sunday, April 17, 2016

As you all know, MOBYCARP and ONEKIDSMOM are in Boston for the Marathon. OKM is in the Crazy, Happy, Supportive Sister and Nutty Spectator division. MC is in the Awesome Dude Qualified and Running He's So Cool division. OVERWORKEDJANET had nothing else to do, so she packed up her DH, all his meds, and drove up just to meet Barb. (OWJ and I have already met a couple of times. I'm yesterday's news.) 

So here's the picture. I can't believe no one posted it yet. 

The picture was taken late yesterday afternoon at Harvard Yard, Harvard Square. We are in front of John Harvard. I made sure they saw the offices of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe (of Car Talk fame) while we were in the Square. We walked around. Talked a lot. Had dinner. Barb and Janet aren't big drinkers, so I behaved myself. No crazy stories to tell. 

OWJ, OKM got together much earlier in the day with JANISMKW. I had another obligation, so I wasn't there. They get to tell their own story of their meet up. 

As I said in my post on Facebook. I never thought I'd make friends online even 5 or 6 years ago. I knew people who'd met their spouses online. My mother-in-law, God rest her soul, made lots of on line friends. Whenever she visited, one of my duties was to schlep her to her meets ups with her A2K friends. Nonetheless, I am so happy that I got to meet Barb. 

So far I have met: 

LESLIELENORE (and ran a miserably hot and humid 5K with her) 

OPTIMIST1948 (who is no longer active on Spark, but we did a triathlon together) OVERWORKEDJANET (three times now! She lives very close to my family, so it is easy to meet her.) and now ONEKIDSMOM and tomorrow I get to meet MOBYCARP. 

Woo the heck Hoo!

Friday afternoon exploring

Saturday, April 16, 2016

It's a bit of a trip being in a major sports market. Yesterday evening the Red Sox had their opening against the Toronto Blue Jays. And the Celtics were playing as well last night. All this and a marathon Monday, too. I know because that's what's on the local TV in my cozy "home from home".

The only task I had from the team back home, speaking of the major sports market, was to get "anything Red Sox" for one member of the work group. She's been a Red Sox fan for decades. And despite being a Yankee fan since 4th grade myself (yeah, I know, don't show my colors HERE... but indulge an old lady who remembers "my" team when it was Yogi behind the plate catching, and Micky Mantle out in the field... sneaking transistor radios into school to listen to the series... collecting baseball cards...) Well, despite all that, one of my goals was to find and acquire something special for her.

I set out from the hotel in search of lunch, and I was heading up Boyleston street from the finish line tracing the route backwards "best I can". I saw a lot of eateries, but opted for the safe and known... a Subway franchise. Then I continued my search for the new Boston Strong sign, which I had been told was about 2 miles from the finish line. I was heading in the right general direction, but without knowing exactly which streets they turn the runners down WHEN, I was kind of blind and lost... and then... I spotted... Fenway Park!

Proof I was there!

There was the perfect opportunity to complete my task - the Red Sox fan store, right across the road from the ball park. And an opportunity to get myself un-lost, too. 

I had to ask three times for a repeat of the word "Kenmore"... cahn-mur? For the location of this sign, which my favorite runner had said he wanted as the start point for his preview run to the finish on Sunday:

They also gave me directions to get back to Boyleston, but... I wanted to follow the route, so I went in the general direction of the finish but stayed on Commonwealth... and bingo! Target number 3 for my exploration appeared: 

The new "Boston Strong" sign on an overpass... the runners will go under this sign on Monday.

One more piece of good fortune from my explorations: my purchase for my work mate? Gave me what I'm going to need on Monday! A clear plastic bag to carry my necessities as a spectator!

Today - the Spark Meet! Hope my Spark buds are kind to me... I covered about 17 miles on foot yesterday 38,600 plus steps on the fitbit. Not that I want to be totally sedentary, but we'll be keeping it gentle... 'cause I really kind of want to do that two mile preview tomorrow afternoon with MOBYCARP, if I can keep anywhere CLOSE to up with him.

And now let's all get out there and Spark the best Saturday April 16th, 2016 we can... because it's the

only one we'll ever get!