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  • 2011
    • January
      • A Life Update
        01/06/11
        Yes, I am still alive.

        My last blog entry was posted just prior to the start of two wonderful, but time-intensive, major life events - a Master's degree program and a new job. Throw in a move (more on that later) and there's been little time for blogging since. With a week off o

  • 2010
    • August
      • Run Gloucester Race Report
        08/22/10
        I put the inaugural Run Gloucester 7-miler on my calendar months ago (while still living in Tucson, in fact), but was starting to have racer’s remorse as it drew near. Our weekends have been jam-packed with house hunting; it’s a 45-minute drive away; and the seacoast-hugging course is chock full of

      • A Triathlete is Born
        08/07/10


        Salem, Massachusetts greeted us with surprisingly chilly temperatures for an August morning. Wishing I had brought a jacket, I was glad that I was not the one who would soon be plunging into the Atlantic. No, that would be my 7-year old niece, Hannah. Although it wasn’t so much plunging

      • Wildcat Sprint Triathlon Report
        08/04/10
        Wildcat Sprint Triathlon Top 5 List



        5. Live Music
        The sound of music is never so sweet as when it signals your proximity to the finish line. While many races feature a DJ, FIRM Racing went one step further with a live band to keep the spectators entertained and the athle

    • July
      • Yoga with the Luna Chix
        07/29/10
        After a day spent mostly with my bottom in a chair and my face bathed in the glow of a computer, I was grateful for a reason to get out of my “garden level” apartment and into the above-ground world. The Luna Chix Boston Running Team was hosting a yoga clinic at Danehy Park and, if there’s anything

      • Kids These Days...
        07/27/10
        It was a successful week for Project Whip the Family into Shape, especially amongst our youth demographic.

        It all started with a Facebook post from my 15-year old cousin – “going for a jog.” I pounced with an offer to join me in the Allan D. Morrison 5K this October and, much to my deligh

      • The Most Informal Running Club Ever (TMIRCE)
        07/19/10
        While the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue (and the acronym isn’t any better), it’s an apt description of this weekly Cambridge gathering. I was impressed with both the size and the friendliness of this group. About 30 runners strong, I chatted with various people during our run along the Ch

      • Jim Kane Sugar Bowl 5-Miler
        07/15/10
        1,400 runners, 20 expo booths, a wheelchair division and the most organized race logistics I have ever witnessed. No, I’m not talking about a half marathon. Or even a weekend 10K. This was a Thursday evening, 5-mile race in South Boston.



        Unfortunately, unusually bad traffic (e

      • Mill City International Tri – A Spectator’s Report
        07/12/10
        Last week, we raced with Bill Rodgers. This week, it was Team Hoyt! If you’re not familiar with this inspirational duo, I encourage you to check out their website. Their story is guaranteed to motivate.







        I should clarify that my role in this weekend’s ra

      • Harvard Pilgrim 10K Race Report – Another PR!
        07/04/10
        What better way to celebrate Independence Day in Boston than to run with Bill Rodgers at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots? Maybe “run with” isn’t the proper phrase as there about 3,000 other people there too. And he was never actually in my sight during the race. But I did see him

    • June
      • "Mother Road Run" Race Report
        06/10/10
        When I realized that our cross-country trek would fall over Memorial Day weekend, I decided to hunt for some races. It would be a great way to squeeze in some exercise while on the road and it's always fun to experience racing in a new place. What I found was the "Mother Road Run" Rou

    • May
      • Packing!
        05/21/10
        Apparently, I was a little blogged out after 31 days of blogging during the west coast adventure. But I'm back! So, what have I been up to the past month?

        1. Packing, packing, packing. However, with time on our side, we've been able to do little bit each day and still enjoy this

    • April
      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 31
        04/14/10
        We had two items to check off our list before leaving Phoenix:

        1. Stop by REI to return the “waterproof” gloves I bought at the Bend REI. Those things didn’t even stay dry for one hour of snow shoveling in Mt. Shasta!

        2. Enjoy lunch at Picazzo’s!



        We cruis

      • West Coast Road Trip – Days 29 and 30
        04/12/10
        I started the day with a short run followed by a hot springs soak. Doesn’t get much better than that.



        After packing up and hitting the road, our first stop of the day was the China Ranch Date Farm whose dates are sold at the Sunday farmers' market at St. Philips Plaza. I

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 28
        04/11/10
        Seeing that there was some nice color over the mountains when we opened our eyes around 6:00am, we hopped out of the tent and headed for Zabriskie Point. Unfortunately, it was overcast and so we missed out on the spectacular morning colors for which this lookout is famous. But, Paul still got some g

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 27
        04/10/10
        The initial trip planning I had done while in Tucson had only gotten us as far as Yosemite. It was only about a week ago that I sat down at the library in Bend, Oregon to make a plan. It was at this point that I realized Death Valley was right next to Yosemite.

        In warmer weather, you can

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 26
        04/09/10
        It was a beautiful clear day, but we spent a while relaxing in the dining hall until it warmed up to a reasonable temperature. Then, we drove to the historic Ahwahnee Lodge to admire the architecture, as well as the waterfall that ended just outside their parking lot.




      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 25
        04/08/10
        Going to bed in our freezing tent was bad, but waking up in it was even worse. I put on as many layers of clothes as possible, grabbed our breakfast out of the bear box and wandered over to the dining hall which was swarming with school groups. Many of the kids wore only jeans, sweatshirts and sneak

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 24
        04/07/10
        While Paul did some online job hunting, I, at the suggestion of a fellow Tri Girl, ran to McKinley Park. It was a nice park with a pond, rose garden and quite a few other runners. (Thanks Jen!)

        We then drove to Yosemite via Highway 120. It was a beautiful drive with rolling hills, farms a

      • West Coast Road Trip - Day 23
        04/06/10
        Today was the first really nice day in a while for us – sunny and mid-60’s. It felt great.

        We ran from our hotel to the American River Trail and then along the trail for a while. It was pleasant to be off the roads and to have river views, although somewhat disconcerting that the path app

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 22
        04/05/10
        We awoke to a winter wonderland in Mt. Shasta!



        Thankfully, the snow had stopped and the hotel parking lot had been cleared by a plow, but we walked down the street to purchase tire chains anyway. We might encounter more snow and ice in Yosemite and did not want to get stuck ag

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 21
        04/04/10
        It was 28 degrees and we had plans to spend 3 hours on snowmobiles. I bundled up with 7 layers on top and 3 on the bottom, including my new snow pants. Amazingly, I was quite comfortable all morning, with the exception of my fingers which kept getting numb.



        Our motivation for

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 20
        04/03/10
        Although it had stopped falling, there was a fresh blanket of snow on the ground this morning. We bundled up and drove about 20 minutes to the site of the Horse Butte 10-Mile trail race put on by CORK (Central Oregon Running Klub).

        As usual, I headed straight to the porta potties and will

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 19
        04/02/10
        I checked the temperature on my IPhone before dressing for a run, but it wasn’t until I opened the door that I discovered it was snowing. Soon-to-be-New-Englanders, we weren’t going to let this deter us from our workout. And we were rewarded handsomely with a magical, snowy run along the Deschutes R

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 18
        04/01/10
        With a lot on tap for the day, we were on the road by 8:30am and, before heading out of Portland, made a quick stop at New Cascadia Traditional Bakery which is a completely gluten-free establishment.



        With some snacks for the drive, we were ready for the Columbia River Gorge. W

    • March
      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 17
        03/31/10
        After a morning run, we walked along the waterfront and then made a stop at Powell’s Books, a bookstore that occupies three city blocks and another "must-do" according to our Facebook friends. We certainly could have spent all day browsing, but didn’t want to tease ourselves as we’re tryin

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 16
        03/30/10
        Paul and I split up for this Seattle morning as he was interested in the Future of Flight Museum and a tour of Boeing…and I was not.



        My pick was “Bodies...the Exhibition.” Unfortunately, they decided to leave town early without updating their website and so I arrived at the l

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 15
        03/29/10
        And week 3 begins! It began with pouring rain and so we took our time with a morning workout in the hotel fitness center. Then, around 10am, we got all suited up in waterproof gear and walked outside - into sunshine. The weather can change in an instant in the northwest. We were fortunate to have ve

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 14
        03/28/10
        Okay…I’m falling behind on the blog, so I'm going to keep it short and hit the highlights.

        The Olympic Peninsula is spectacular – so lush and green! The day was overcast, but a light rain only fell occasionally, and so we were able to enjoy a hike in the Hoh Rainforest, as well as so

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 13
        03/27/10
        As today was expected to be the only rain-free day in the foreseeable future, we set an alarm to make the most of it. We started off with a much needed 8-mile run on a hilly, but scenic, forest service road. After a few days of little exercise and lots of sitting in the car and yummy treats (like pi

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 12
        03/26/10
        Today brought more rain, but it did not dampen our spirits as today was our 5th wedding anniversary. Paul has truly lived up to his vows, especially the part about being my “partner in adventure.”



        We took our time in the morning - I used the sorry excuse for a fitness room wh

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 11
        03/25/10
        Now that we’ve arrived in Oregon, we’ll have to get used to being wet. We awoke in Coos Bay to 46-degree temperatures and steady rain. The forecast shows a respite on Saturday, but, otherwise, rain for the next week.

        Feeling the need to prove to myself that I can handle inclement weather,

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 10
        03/24/10
        We didn’t get a chance to explore Eureka, but I’ve had to make peace with the fact that we’re covering a lot of ground on this trip. We can’t see it all, but we can enjoy the heck out of all of the great things we do see.



        Paul had really been looking forward to some good fishi

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 9
        03/23/10
        We hit the road first thing today, anxious to see the redwoods. A visitor center ranger assisted us in finding a suitable trail and we ended up driving to Prairie Creek State Park for the 10-mile (roundtrip) hike/run on the James Irvine Trail.





        What a difference fro

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 8
        03/22/10
        And week #2 begins!

        We awoke to a chilly morning – probably in the low 40’s – and ran down to the water for a short-lived run on the beach. Between the wind, the soft sand and the steep camber of the beach, it was not ideal for running. But, we enjoyed the views and appreciated the start

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 7
        03/21/10
        It was a calm, beautiful morning for taking in the amazing coastal views at Bodega Head.







        We had planned to kayak in the area, but found that we were a little early for the season. Someone referred us to Jenner, the next town up the coast, where we found

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 6
        03/20/10
        The Pirate’s Cove 20K Trail Race was the only part of the road trip that we committed to in advance (with money, that is) as we were concerned the race would sell out. And it did.

        There were also 8, 30 and 50K events and these races were part of the Pacific Coast Trail Run Series. It was

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 5
        03/19/10
        This was another fantastic day! We started off with a 5-mile run along the gorgeous San Francisco Bay. Then, after showering up, we took a walk to a section of Lombard Street known as “The World’s Crookedest Street.”



        Then, we took advantage of one of the city’s free walking to

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 4
        03/18/10
        We climbed out of the tent before dawn in search of sunrise photos. Instead, we got fog. But that made for some cool photos too.



        Our first stop of the day was the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery which was amazing!





        We continued up Highwa

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 3
        03/17/10
        We pulled into camp in the dark and so it wasn’t until the morning that we discovered the beauty of Lake Cachuma. The huge campground was practically deserted, although the fisherman began arriving at dawn.





        Solvang, “the Dutch Capital of America” was just about 20

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 2
        03/16/10
        Having spent the night in Palm Springs, we started day 2 with a run at Indian Canyon, a beautiful palm oasis.







        After working up an appetite on the trails, we headed to the Palm Greens Café, one of those tree-hugger type joints that we just love. Paul sta

      • West Coast Road Trip – Day 1
        03/15/10
        Anxious to get past territory we’ve traveled previously, we put in about 370 miles of driving today, getting us to Palm Springs, California.



        We pulled out of the driveway at 8:45am and made brief stops in Tempe (to buy a sleeping pad at REI) and Buckeye (for lunch at Chipotle)

      • Almost Go Time!
        03/14/10
        There was lots of packing and trip preparation to do this weekend, but we did manage to fit in a few other things. We are on vacation after all.

        I started Saturday morning at the MDA Stride & Ride where I was a participant, rather than an employee. It's certainly a much less stre

      • Cooking, Cooking, Cooking!
        03/07/10
        This is how I spent most of last Sunday. I started the day with a free "Incredible Eggs" demonstration class at Williams-Sonoma where I learned, among other things, that one should crack eggs on a flat, rather than vertical, surface to avoid getting shell fragments getting in your eggs. So

    • February
      • Headin' Home
        02/22/10
        We have some exciting news,
        So we decided to send a letter.
        No, we are NOT pregnant.
        You should really know us better.

        A move is in our future.
        We feel the need to roam.
        We're packing up and heading east.
        It's time to come back home.

        The

      • Catalina Trail Run
        02/20/10
        With rain predicted for the afternoon and just two days left on our annual state park pass, I headed to Catalina State Park to squeeze in a trail run. I took the Nature Loop Trail and then hopped onto the Sutherland Trail for a scenic 6-mile route with a number of water crossings.


        <

      • 2010 Pemberton 50K Relay
        02/14/10
        You may wonder, "How do ultras differ from large road marathons?" Here is your answer, in pictures:



        Last year, I became an ultramarathoner at the Pemberton 50K, and so it holds a special place in my heart. This year, my mileage wasn't nearly where it needed to b

      • A Recovery Weekend
        02/07/10
        Most weekends involve the decision of which day to bike and which day to run. This weekend, we choose poorly.

        On a gorgeous Saturday, while most Tucson athletes were enjoying the desert's sunny skies and 70 degree afternoon temperatures, we opted for an early morning indoor spin work

    • January
      • London's Run Half Marathon Race Report
        01/31/10


        Yesterday was full of ups and downs.

        UP
        I awoke at 4:30 a.m. after an amazingly restful night's sleep. No pre-race jitters. No tossing and turning. No anticipating the alarm every 5 minutes. It was remarkable.

        DOWN
        I dozed off on the car ride to Queen

      • Chase the Sun Trail Run
        01/24/10
        After spending my morning driving round trip to Casa Grande and sitting through a 2.5-hour meeting, I was ready to stretch my legs and burn some energy. Luckily, we were pre-registered for that afternoon's first annual Chase the Sun Trail Run, a 10K race organized by the U.S. Orienteering Team

      • An Adventurous Trail Run
        01/17/10
        My compression socks are on and I'm ready to taper!

        That's right, it's just two weeks until the London's Run Half Marathon and until I see how well this 3-day-a-week training plan has worked for me. During this last week before the taper, I racked up 28 miles - a lot f

      • Post-Christmas Vacation
        01/10/10
        The day after Christmas, Paul and I drove out to Worcester for the annual MHC holiday gathering at Susan and Jen's. It was a small group this year, but we had a great time catching up.



        Next up was six nights at my parents' ski house in North Conway, New Hampshire. Fo

      • Merry Christmas 2009
        01/09/10
        The proof:



        My sister's family staying overnight at my parents' means that I get to witness the magic of Santa Claus. It's like being a kid again. Except that they left milk for Santa while we used to leave bourbon. "To warm him up," is what they told

      • Happy Holidays!
        01/09/10
        Despite living 2,500 miles away, I have yet to miss a Christmas with the family. And so, on December 23, Paul and I endured a 5-hour flight and a whole day of travel which took us to my parents' house in Stratham, New Hampshire which, as always, was beautifully decorated for the holidays.

  • 2009
    • December
      • A Quick Status Update
        12/20/09
        Half Marathon Training
        On track with 41 days to go! Of course, I leave on Wednesday for nine days in cold, snowy New England. I'm not sure how the plan will hold up in the face of inclement weather and family parties, but the fact that it requires running only 3 days a week definitely work

      • No. AZ Road Trip Day 8 – Sedona to Tucson
        12/07/09
        This was it - our final day of our Northern Arizona adventure! To make the most of it, we awoke early to catch the sunrise from Airport Mesa. As you can see, we weren't the only ones with this idea.









        We had planned to hit the road right

      • No. AZ Road Trip Day 7 – Sedona
        12/06/09
        While other people I know were up before dawn risking their lives at Black Friday sales, we slept in and then met friends, Bob & Eileen, for a late morning hike followed by a delicious lunch at Wildflower. We found that the farther we got from Najavo country, the better our food options became.<

      • No. AZ Road Trip Day 6 – Lake Powell to Sedona
        12/04/09
        Our holiday started off in the traditional way with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, but that's where the tradition ended. We discovered that most restaurants either close for the day or offer a fixed menu laden with gluten, and so we had a rather international Thanksgiving with m

    • November
      • No. AZ Road Trip Day 5 – Lake Powell
        11/30/09
        Now that I have returned to the real world of working for a living, I'll need to speed up the blogging if I hope to finish this vacation report before my next vacation starts (New England in less than 4 weeks - woohoo!). So, I'll be hitting the highlights for the second half of our adventu

      • No. AZ Road Trip Day 4 – Monument Valley to Lake Powell
        11/29/09
        “Uhh…two hours. Half an hour. An hour and a half. I don’t know.” This was the response our guide gave when asked how long it would take us to hike back to the hotel. I wanted to kick him.



        Forty-five minutes into our 2.5-hour sunrise tour of Monument Valley, he had gotten our i

      • No. AZ Road Trip Day 3 – Canyon de Chelly to Monument Valley
        11/27/09
        For the sake of convenience and against our better judgment, we opted for breakfast at the Thunderbird Lodge cafeteria. After a disturbing encounter with their version of huevos rancheros, we got back in line and stuck with the foods that required the least amount of human intervention – cold cereal

      • No. AZ Road Trip Day 2 – Holbrook to Chinle
        11/26/09
        While waiting for our host to fry up an astonishing amount of bacon, we wandered around the gorgeous backyard, which is sometimes used for weddings, and checked out the banquet space, which had a previous life as a steakhouse and, before that, an airplane hangar.





        W

      • No. AZ Road Trip: Day 1 – Tucson to Holbrook
        11/25/09
        Determined to stick to my half marathon training plan, I made time for a 10-miler before beginning our adventure. I found that a long workout eases the guilt of spending the rest of the day on your ass. I also learned that a long car ride does nothing to ease the stiffness caused by a 10-miler. Eve

      • ROAD TRIP!!!
        11/20/09
        Tomorrow morning, Paul and I embark on an 8-day, 900-mile road trip adventure! Having lived in Arizona for more than 10 years, we're overdue for a visit to some of our state's most beautiful areas - Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell.

        Our final tw

      • Amica Tri Race Report
        11/01/09


        This photo says it all. You know you're in for a tough day when the first major climb of the race comes before T1.

        We drove to Carefree yesterday afternoon to pick up our Amica Sprint Triathlon race packets and get body-marked. Pre-marking seemed like a fantastic idea unt

    • October
      • Bisbee Stair Climb Race Report
        10/18/09
        Last weekend's race was all business. Showed up with a goal and left with a PR. Doesn't get much better than that.

        This weekend, I once again set and achieved a goal - to have fun and enjoy the morning at the Bisbee Stair Climb. A girl deserves a break, right?

        It was

      • Get Moving Tucson 5K Race Report
        10/12/09
        It all started last Tuesday when my shoe pod battery died just before my 2-mile tempo run. Spoiled by technology, I've become accustomed to simply glancing at my Polar watch to gain all kinds of useful information, including my pace. And so, forced into an old-fashioned workout, I pushed a litt

      • Nathan Tri Race Report
        10/02/09
        After 14 months without doing a single triathlon, I recently completed three in three months...and just signed up for another. This past Saturday, I raced the sprint distance of the Nathan Triathlon while Paul opted for the Olympic.

        We drove up to Tempe on Saturday for packet pick-up and

    • September
      • Catching Up
        09/26/09
        I've been rather neglectful of my blog lately, but with good reason. Read on...

        September 6 - 7
        While most Americans were enjoying Labor Day with backyard BBQs or long-weekend road trips, I (along with MDA employees across the country) was working my tail off at the Jerry Lewis

    • August
      • The Week in Review
        08/30/09
        Bike Commuting
        For three years, I enjoyed the many luxuries of a 2.5-mile work commute - walking out the door at 8:50am; infrequent stops at the gas station; popping home for forgotten items or the occasional lunch; never having to listen to the traffic report. Ahhh...that was the life. But, ap

      • Hummingbird Tri Race Report
        08/23/09
        While driving to Sierra Vista in a rainstorm on Friday evening, Paul asked if I had thought to check the weather for the next day. As a matter of fact, no I had not. I live in Arizona. And it's August. Hence it will be hot.

        By the time we got to Chili's for dinner, I conceded th

      • Canadian Rockies Vacation - Part IV - Calgary
        08/20/09
        LODGING
        Located in the Kensington district and owned by the extraordinarily welcoming Deanne, we found the River Wynde to be an exceptional B&B. We spent one night in the main house on the day we flew into Calgary and then returned for our final three nights of the vacation and stayed in th

      • Canadian Rockies Vacation - Part III - The Wedding
        08/16/09
        We departed Banff on Friday, June 24 and spent the bulk of the day - about 5 hours - on the road to Fernie, British Columbia, the small ski resort town that David and Catherine had chosen for their destination wedding.

        WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS
        - Staying, along with happy couple and some me

      • Canadian Rockies Vacation - Part II - BANFF
        08/09/09
        On Wednesday, July 22, after three wonderful days spent exploring Jasper, we traveled back down the Icefields Parkway. Banff was our final destination, but, on the way, we had reservations at the Columbia Icefield Centre for an Ice Walk, a 3-hour guided tour on the Athabasca Glacier.


      • Canadian Rockies Vacation - Part I - JASPER
        08/02/09
        When David and Catherine decided to get married in Fernie, British Columbia and to honor us with an invitation to the big day, we decided to go all out and make the trip into an 11-day Canadian Rockies adventure. I'll post more on Banff and Calgary later, but read on for Part I - Jasper.
        <

    • July
      • Bring on the Birthday!
        07/16/09
        Paul and I hit the road Saturday morning for a 90-minute tandem ride. We were motivated to get out fairly early as it was forecasted to be 110 degrees that day. All was going well until, about 1.5 miles from home, I heard a strange noise and then felt something slapping me on the back. Paul hit the

      • Firecracker Tri Race Report
        07/05/09
        There was a lot of smack talk going on at the Vyriotes' house this weekend. Though we have competed in the same race many times, Paul and I have never "raced" each other. (I don't think I need to explain why.) However, the staggered start of the Firecracker Triathlon presented an

    • June
      • Long Weekend!
        06/29/09
        Taking advantage of some hard-earned comp time at work, I enjoyed a 3.5-day weekend. I kicked it off by picking up a new pair of running shoes at Performance Footwear. I wore Brooks for a long time and then, after some injury issues about a year ago, switched over to Mizuno. While comfortable, I don

      • Home Sweet Home
        06/21/09
        For the past two months, my mind and body have belonged to MDA Summer Camp. I spent most of my evenings and weekends at the office, except, of course, for the two weeks I spent at camp - one in the White Mountains of Arizona and one in Salt Lake City.

        During the short periods that my body

    • May
      • Brief Hiatus
        05/29/09
        Tomorrow morning, I drive up to the cool White Mountains to co-direct a week of MDA Summer Camp. Please send good thoughts my way for good weather, healthy campers, well-behaved volunteers and a smooth week!

      • A Sub-30 Minute 5K
        05/24/09
        After finishing the Dave's Run for ALS 5K in 30:00.4, I was determined to add some speed to my weekly workouts and run a sub-30-minute 5K. However, between my work schedule and my IT Band, I never made it to the track. Shocking, I know. I showed up for the Tucson 5000 feeling not very confident

      • A Quick Weekend Report
        05/10/09
        Although I didn't engage in any traditional exercise on Saturday, I was on my feet from 7:00 a.m. until noon working at the MDA Stride & Ride. It apparently had some effect as my legs were pretty tight this morning. And there's no better way to loosen them up than going on a tandem rid

      • Back From the Blahs
        05/03/09
        My recent posting hiatus is due primarily to the fact that MDA Summer Camp is looming on my horizon. The closer it gets, the more time I spend in the office, skimming through piles of barely legible camp applications, thinking up feasible arts and crafts projects and trying to find a good price for

    • April
      • Going Downtown
        04/19/09
        Paul and I often lament the fact that Tucson lacks a downtown. Sure, there is that area referred to as "downtown," complete with city hall and a few tall buildings, but it does not offer much to entice Tucsonans to venture down there on a weekend afternoon. And so no one was more surprised

      • Catalina State Park Race Report
        04/12/09
        When Denise arrived at my house at 6:00am to carpool to the Catalina State Park Race, the skies were overcast and the temperature was a raw 50 degrees. The race did not begin until 7:30, but, being averse to the cold and having seen the rainy forecast, our top priority was securing a parking spot at

      • Mystery Weekend 2009 - Joyce's Turn
        04/05/09
        Flashback - It's February 25, 2009. We've just arrived at the Tucson Airport where I find out that Paul is taking me to San Francisco for my Mystery Weekend. I'm thrilled! Then, I'm concerned. Will Paul be disappointed that his Mystery Weekend destination is sleepy Apache Junctio

    • March
      • A Different Kind of Endurance Challenge
        03/29/09
        It was a weekend jam-packed with happy events and reasons to celebrate. And so I had to pace myself.

        Pre-Wedding Run
        Denise picked me up at 7 a.m. on Saturday and we headed to Reid Park for a 4.5-mile run with the bride, Billie, as well as Heather and Amy. Then it was bagels, fruit a

      • Dave's Run for ALS
        03/22/09
        Riding up Mt. Lemmon just wasn't enough and so, to round out the weekend, we ran a 5K this morning. Actually, I'd been planning to race at Dave's Run for ALS for months, as it benefits MDA.

        While the race didn't start until 8:30 a.m., I arrived at 7:00 to set up an ALS

      • Conquering the Lemmon
        03/21/09
        Halfway up a monstrous hill during our recent San Francisco bicycling trip, Paul said, "If we can do this, then we can definitely climb Mt. Lemmon." We debated a while and then decided we had nothing to lose. Unlike on an out-of-town cycling trip, there would be no pressure to make it to t

      • Mystery Weekend - San Fran Part 2
        03/15/09
        Have you ever wondered what kind of view the tandem stoker has? Here you go - I took this as we were riding:



        On Saturday morning, I got my sore, chafed bottom on the saddle by 8:00 a.m. and we were on our way back to San Francisco. I felt mentally refreshed after a solid night

      • Mystery Weekend 2009 - Part 1
        03/10/09
        Paul had been leaving hints for a week and I was pretty sure that we were on our way to Texas for a tandem rally. So, I was quite surprised when I got to the airport gate and discovered that the mystery destination was actually San Francisco. I was thrilled! I had never been to that area and was exc

      • And the Mystery Destination Was...
        03/02/09
        SAN FRANCISCO!

        Just a quick note to say that Paul and I had an adventurous weekend cycling, sightseeing and eating in San Fran. We got home at midnight last night and I have a busy week ahead, which means that I probably will not have a chance to write up a full report until the weekend.<

    • February
      • Recovering Well
        02/23/09
        All week long, I was amazed at how good I felt. My legs were a little sluggish when running, but there was no pain or soreness. What a difference it makes to run on trails as opposed to the road!

        We joined the usual Saturday morning crew this weekend for a 50-mile ride on the tandem. It w

      • Pemberton 50K Race Report
        02/15/09
        Friday
        Paul and I each took half days at work and were on the road by mid-afternoon. We took our time getting to Fountain Hills, stopping in Phoenix for an early dinner at Picazzo's and some trail shoe shopping at REI.

        When looking for lodging for this race, I discovered that th

      • Ready or Not!
        02/13/09
        Our bags are packed and we're about to hop in the car for the 2.5-hour drive up to Fountain Hills...with a stop along the way at Picazzo's, of course, for some gluten-free pizza.

        Over one week ago, the forecast was calling for rain all weekend and I've been checking the for

      • Happy Anniversary to Me
        02/11/09
        Saturday is Valentine's Day, but this Hallmark holiday will be third on my list of reasons to celebrate that day. Firstly, if all goes well, I will make the leap from marathoner to ultramarathoner at the Pemberton 50K. Although, in reality, I'm sure it will be more of a shuffle than a leap

      • One Week To Go
        02/08/09
        On Saturday morning, Paul and I dusted off the tandem for a ride up to Dove Mountain with the Saturday group. Despite a chilly start (in the low 40's) and an ominous forecast, it turned into a beautiful day for 50 miles of riding.

        My Sunday morning plan included 8 miles at the SAR So

    • January
      • Viva Las Vegas!
        01/31/09
        I spent all week in Las Vegas for a work-related conference which involved many hours of sitting and listening interspersed with heavy, starch-laden meals. Ugh. On two mornings, I managed to squeeze in short runs which began with passing through the casino at 5:30am. It was a startling and somewhat

      • Tandem Ride & Sabino Run
        01/25/09
        Paul had been struggling with a cold for a few days and so, when the alarm went off Saturday morning signaling us to get out of bed for the regular Saturday group ride, he convinced me to turn it off and crawl back under the covers. Okay...maybe "convinced" isn't the right word. He me

      • Four Weeks and Counting
        01/18/09
        With the Pemberton 50K fast approaching, I was due for a long run. I wanted a 20-miler on a course comparable to the Pemberton Trail - dirt and relatively flat - but that combination is difficult to find as most dirt trails lead up a mountain. Paul got creative and drove us up to Willow Springs Road

      • Back to the Grind
        01/15/09
        My first week back at the office following a relaxing two-week vacation seemed to drag on, especially as I had a Saturday meeting that kept me busy until 1:30pm. I wanted to get in a moderately long workout that day and so I broke it up with 3 early morning miles before my meeting and then 10 late a

      • Holiday Vacation - Part II
        01/06/09
        Upon waking each morning at the ski condo in North Conway, we faced many difficult decisions. What time should we ski? Should I read by the fire or snuggle up with a blanket on the couch? At which outlet stores should we shop today? Pictionary or Boggle? It's a rough life. I love the hustle and

      • Holiday Vacation - Part I
        01/04/09
        The first few days of our holiday vacation are always hectic. My parents host Christmas Eve dinner which means a whirlwind of cooking followed by a whirlwind of present-opening, with lots of eating thrown in the middle.







        My sister's family also over

  • 2008
    • December
      • Practicing at Pemberton
        12/27/08
        To ease the stress of our holiday travel day, Paul and I decided to spend Monday night at a Phoenix aiport hotel. And since we'd be in Phoenix, why not drive just a little farther to McDowell Mountain Park and run the 15.5-mile Pemberton Trail? We'll be running two loops of this course for

      • Back on Track
        12/20/08
        Paul and I had been planning to bike with his regular group at 7:30 this morning, but a combination of a late night and temperatures in the 30's convinced us to stay under the covers. We went to a holiday party Friday evening and managed to get to bed by 10:00pm, only to be awakened a few hours

      • The Reset Button
        12/15/08
        Last Friday included two work-related holiday parties, the first of which featured a lunch of pasta and chocolate cake. That much carbs and sugar in one sitting is a rarity for me. The second event, later that evening and of which I was in charge, involved 200 people, Santa and presents. That, I lea

      • A Weekend of Training
        12/07/08
        Friday - The Gym
        I hit LA Fitness in the morning for a great full-body workout. In the future, there will be increased strength, better running and a more toned body. In the meantime, there will be sore muscles. It's a good sore. A healthy sore. But, still...sore. Later in the day, and esp

    • November
      • Back to the Trails
        11/29/08
        I realized this morning that I had not been on the trails since our Charleau Gap run on October 4. And, once I got out there, I realized how much I had missed it. Trails beat the road any day. It's a good thing I feel that way, as I'll be hitting them more often to prepare for the Pemberto

      • Thanksgiving Day Cross Country Classic 5K
        11/27/08
        Having done this race five times previously, it has become something of a Thanksgiving tradition. However, Paul and I were tempted to break tradition today due to the large volume of water falling from the sky - not an issue we often face in the desert. If we had registered on our own, we definitely

      • The Next Big Thing
        11/25/08
        It's official. I have registered for the Pemberton 50K, a 31-mile (for the metric-challenged) trail race outside of Phoenix on February 14. What else would Paul and I do for Valentine's Day?

        For a few months, I have been saying that, if I finished the marathon uninjured, then I

      • San Antonio Weekend and Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Report
        11/23/08
        The story begins Friday evening when I packed my bags and got to bed about 9pm...and tossed and turned until I finally decided to get up and watch TV, so that I could unwind and Paul could sleep. I returned to bed at 10:10pm and willed myself to fall asleep...but I did not and my stress level climbe

      • San Antonio Bound
        11/14/08
        To avoid total post-race devastation after months and months of training, it is recommended to have three race goals in mind. And here are mine:

        No Problem Goal - To reach the finish line uninjured.
        Barring some unforeseen disaster, I feel very confident that I can achieve this...whi

      • I Got a New Camera!
        11/09/08
        Two posts in one day - this is unprecedented! But, as you can see, I'm excited about my new toy.



        One of Paul's hobbies is photography which means we have a really nice camera that I don't know how to use. It's also a large camera which makes it difficult to

      • Sierra Vista Charity Biathlon Race Report
        11/09/08
        One thing I love about racing is the variety. Next weekend, I'll be in San Antonio running a marathon with 29,999 other people. Yesterday, I was in Sierra Vista for the Inaugural Sierra Vista Charity Biathlon, a 5K run and 14-mile bike race that drew only about 100 people. I enjoy events where

      • Two Weeks and Counting
        11/02/08
        Last weekend, I did my final long run for the marathon - 21 miles - and then went to a festival and a going away party. I couldn't believe how good I felt and how much energy I had! Sure, I was a little stiff for a few days, but it was nothing like the pain I had anticipated - the kind that tur

    • October
      • Let the Taper Begin
        10/26/08
        Yesterday, I set out at 6:30am and, 4 hours 1 minute and 40 seconds later, I returned home with 21 miles under my belt. Three weeks from today, I will run 26.2 miles at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon.

        Every marathoner knows to simulate the race as much as possi

      • Bisbee Stairclimb
        10/22/08
        Since our very first year of dating, the Bisbee Stairclimb has been a tradition for me and Paul, making this our 6th annual Bisbee weekend as a couple. While advertised as "The 5K that feels like a 10K," the race is actually about 4.3 miles (according to the shoe pods of various runners) a

      • Just Normal
        10/12/08
        My plan for Saturday was to do some speedwork, specifically 8 Yasso 800's. This is also a bit of an endurance workout for me as the warm-up, cool down, half-mile repeats and recovery intervals add up to about 9 miles. During my warm-up jog to the track, I was somewhat concerned that I just didn

      • Short on Miles, Long on Time
        10/05/08
        Paul was the run director for yesterday's Tucson Trail Runner's event at Charleau Gap. Being an out-an-back course, runners could go any distance they desired, up to 21 miles. Three weeks ago, I ran 17 miles and so my plan for today was to do 19. I liked the idea of doing my last few long

      • Mystery Weekend - Destination Corrales, New Mexico!
        10/01/08
        On Friday morning, Paul left the house in the dark, both literally (it was only 5:15) and figuratively (he had no idea where we were going). During the previous week, I had left him little clues and packing suggestions which, apparently, had led him to believe we were traveling to Salt Lake City. It

    • September
      • $50 Well Spent
        09/21/08
        I have to say, I was apprehensive about spending $50 on a pair of compression socks. I mean...they're socks! After my first long run in them, however, I'm pleased to report that they were worth the cash.

        Paul and I were up before dawn to meet about 20 other members of the Tucson

      • Stylin' Socks!
        09/18/08
        At the tri camp last weekend, Kim from TriSports.com talked about using compression socks to aid in recovery. My calves can ache for days after a long run and so I decided these socks were worth a shot...even if they look totally goofy.

        I purchased a pair a few days later and tried them o

      • 17 Miles!
        09/17/08
        Not only did I run 17 miles on Saturday, but it actually felt pretty good! Of course, this is relative to my last three long runs which have been miserable. Why the difference? Who the heck knows, but some contributing factors were probably a new pair of shoes and cooler temperatures. It turns out t

      • Apple Picking & Trail Running
        09/07/08
        Thanks to a recent newspaper article, I discovered Howard's Orchard, a small farm in the town of Catalina. Yesterday, Paul and I strapped on a pannier and rode our tandem there to check it out. The owner is a really sweet man who instructed us to "treat it like home" as he gave us som

    • August
      • Just Me and the "Kids"
        08/30/08
        As an employee of MDA, I will spend much of the Labor Day weekend working the MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon. Having experienced the past two Telethons, Paul got smart and has skipped town for the weekend. While I supervise the "green room," he will be enjoying the GABA Blue Loop Bike Tour throu

      • Camping Weekend
        08/16/08
        Last weekend, we packed the Prius full of gear and dogs, and escaped the desert heat with a long weekend of camping in the White Mountains. We chose Fool Hollow Lake in Show Low as we have visited the campground for the Deuces Wild Triathlon and Paul knew he could take the dogs swimming - something

    • July
      • Training Update
        07/26/08
        Today is my last day as a 33-year old and I marked the occasion with a 12-mile training run. Considering that my head didn't hit the pillow until after midnight last night, I was not overly optimistic about how this run would feel. Why the late night? I marked my second-to-last day as a 33-year

    • May
      • Sahuarita Lake Triathlon
        05/26/08
        Whenever someone asked if I was ready for this race, I would say, "I'll be participating - not racing." Spending 12-hour days, as well as some weekend hours, at the office does not allow for ideal training. I wasn't sure whether or not I should even sign up, but decided that, if

      • Police Memorial Challenge
        05/25/08
        This was the second annual running of this event and my second year participating. Designed to give runners a taste of the training police recruits endure, the race takes place at the Police Academy...which is about 45 minutes home. I was on my own today as Paul opted to sleep in. Remember the glute

    • April
      • Mystery Weekend Race Report
        04/27/08
        This race report starts way back in December. Paul and I always have a difficult time thinking of gifts for each other and so we decided that, instead of the usual holiday gift giving, we would each plan a surprise weekend trip for the other. We both love to travel, have fun planning trips and love