New is good

Today's run: 9K, 1:14

Two of the greatest barriers to running through my last pregnancy were a) my crummy attitude towards my changing shape and fitness and b) having well fitting clothes to do it in.

To get this pregnancy off on the right foot, I decided the first thing to do was to invest in some new gear. A survey of all of my local running shops proved that none of them carry maternity running gear. So I had to improvise. I picked up a pair of Moving Comfort Bermuda Trail Shorts. I heart them. A looser fit, a low waist band and they're full of stretchy goodness. Because face it, skin tight lycra is not flattering and these shorts do the trick.

New socks. Feetures, recommended by my local run shop, DO not do the trick. I prefer my SmartWools.

New shoes. Picked up months ago on sale. My standby Saucony Grid Omnis.

New shirt. Super cool on sale sample rack three stripe brand that I don't usually wear but cheap and new is good.

New route. Despite my address in beige suburbia, across the highway are dirt roads and fields that make me feel like I'm back home. Unfortunately it's unsheltered and heat doesn't agree with me these days.

That said, I had a wonderful, however slow, 9K run. I went back to 10 and 1s and contemplated doing the 1/2 on the 25th (I haven't call the race director yet). It was my slowest run in a very long time, but the face that I was out there was a win for me.

Next slow run will be with Ms. Wumpus (as long as I can vett her attire before we hit the road).

Time to bring in the professional

Even my cat this posting pictures of my wart is silly (don't ask what my husband thinks).

Over the counter wasn't cutting it, so a friend referred my to a podiatry clinic close to my office, which means I had to wear sensible shoes to work that day (can hardly show up to a podiatrist's office in cute tall high wedges). While debriding and blasting my wart with super ouchy freezing stuff and coating it in silver nitrate, she told me that I've got the start of bunions and that my big toes aren't very flexible.

Bunions? How old am I again?

A schedule of monthly foot torture for the wart and stretches for the inflexible big toes are on the calendar.

Like I said, how old am I again?

My Elusive 10th Half Mary

For reasons relating to lack of training and abominable fatigue and pickle and saltine cravings (read between the lines!) I'm going to drop my 1/2 half marathon on the 25th to a 10K. That means for the first time in 5 years I won't have completed at least 1 half in a year. And while part of me wants to slog my way through a 2+ hour run just to get my 10th finisher's medal I know that I'd have a miserable time. And that's not why I run. And knowing what lies ahead in the next few months, that'll just make that 10th 1/2 even better (a bigger cheering section!)

On the bright side, I have no plans right now to ditch the trail series. Not only because they're super fun and not 13 miles long, but because they're all followed by a pancake breakfast. And i will do just about anything for free pancakes.

Except for run 13 miles.

"In Very Poor Shape"

A few weeks ago I dropped off my bike at the shop after my botched "I think I'm a mechanic" repair job. I finally just picked it up again (and indeed, it fits nicely in the back on the Elantra). Today I finally got to cleaning out my purse and found the repair claim. Looks like I'm not the only one that isn't in perfect condition.

I started laughing so hard. Instead of throwing out the receipt because I was embarassed that my "good" bike is only a paint job up from a beater, I waved it in front of my husband to prove that I am justified in needing a new bike.

The boys are out of the house shopping for my birthday present. Here's hoping it starts with Cerv and ends with elo. Or at least that it's pink.

New addition

Meet Mark, short for Mark 2. He is newest addition to the collection of Newt toting gear in our garage. We picked him up in nearly near condition for only a hundred bucks (more than half off what he was new). There's plenty of room for Newt, his trucks, sticks, rocks, snacks, balls and any of the other treasures that he has picked up.
Our first adventure was a 14K roundtrip to my favourite park battling some brutal headwinds (made even worse because Mark is hooked up to my beater commuter). But Newt had a blast and I was riding so it made it all worthwhile.
But Mark definately needs to be hooked up to my road bike. Not only because it will be easier to ride, but I will get to look like a total bad ass nerd. And it will give me an excuse to buy a cute cycling skirt.

Putting my money where my butt should be

On Saturday morning I spent $190 in 3 minutes and 2 mouse clicks.

My 10th 1/2 marathon (and first for 2009) will be the Beaches Half Marathon on July 25. The warm up race to the Beaches Half will be the 6K Trail Run, 1st of 5 race in the Trail Run Series. Somewhere in there will be at least 1 sprint tri and a return to bike commuting.

The half is 39 days away --- time to do something a little longer than track workouts.

Now I have something to aim for.

Resistance

I've had resistant grays for about 10 years (considering my grandfather had a full head of white at 21, I'm OK with being only salt and pepper at 31). I recently discovered resistant grays in my brows, too many to pluck out. And despite all of the warnings on the box, my brows are now also Shade #4.