Tuesday, April 26, 2011

It's my birthday and I will run if I want to

run if I want to
you would run to
if you were you know who ...

(you should be singing the above to the tune of  "It's my Birthday and I will cry if I want to")

This is what happens when your ipod dies 15 miles into a 25 mile run.  You make up songs and think of crazy things you can do. 

Today really is my Birthday.  I am 38.  I should be running 38 miles (like any good ultra runner would do) but I only have 25 in and no idea if I am going for 13 more tonight.  Only time will tell.  The run this AM felt great as in GREAT!!!!!!!  Oh man the legs are starting to feel like my legs again.  The ankle is great as long as I don't tweak it too much...that may be an issue on my 50 mile trail race in less than two weeks, hummmmm...  Now onto the two amazing women I met this week.

On Saturday I had headed out on an Emergency Easter Bunny run.  What is that you ask?  Well Chloe had sent a letter to the Easter Bunny asking for a bulldozer, her father (my husband, who is amazing) forgot to tell me about this letter.  As Chloe and I were driving back from VT she tells me that the Easter Bunny is going to bring her a bulldozer, she is sure of it because she sent a letter with a picture.  SHIT! Ok so Saturday I head out for my run/mission.  It is pouring rain.  I run all the way to town and find a bulldozer at the back of the shelf at the grocery store, GREAT! Now I have to get the thing home.  I tie it to my camel bak.  Now there is a site for you.  In super uppity Ridgefield a runner running in the pouring rain with a bulldozer tied to her pack, bahahahahaha.  I am rounding the corner to out neck of the woods (quite literally) and I see the lady who lives across the lake running the other way.  U TURN.  I track her down and crash her run.  What?? I need a running buddy.  I am desperate.  I hijack her run and we run 3 miles or so together me with the bulldozer now under my arm (the bag broke).  I am not sure that was the best first impression to make but it sure was fun to run with someone.  Any bets on if she will run with me again? 

The next day, Sunday.  We are all done with our egg hunt and are sitting outside with the neighbors and Chloe is playing with her bulldozer (she loves it btw) and Taren (Karen with a T) runs by.  She says Hi! And then says "I didn't know you run ultras, Jeff (her neighbor, word gets around quick up here in our lake community) told me."  "Anyway you want to do a 2.5hr run with me."  Well HELL YES!! Doug gives me a thumbs up and I scurry inside to change as quick as lightning.  Did I forget to say I have seen Taren running by, she is super fast and was therefore sort of avoiding her.  But, desperate times call for desperate measures and long runs even everything out, right???? OMG she was fast.  Turns out she runs 3hr marathons give or take 5 minutes.  And her idea of an easy run is my marathon race pace.  If you think she slowed going up hill you are wrong, we ran up hill and down hill all at a sub 9mm pace.  It was tough but it was awesome.  She is an awesome lady and so inspirational.  I can't wait to run with her again.  I was kind of laughing about the whole situation, how many people run up to a neighbor and say, hey you want to run 2.5hrs and the nut job says yes?  You just don't find that everyday.  Love it. 

All in all I had an awesome week last week.  Love finding running buddies.  Wooot wooot!!

Happy Running All!

8 comments:

Mandi Runs said...

Happy Birthday!! Hope you make time for another 13, because that would be awesome!!

That is awesome that you crashed her run with a bulldozer and all! I bet she loved it and can't wait to run with you again. Sounds like you have great neighbors, it's always nice to have runners next door :))

KovasP said...

Happy birthday!

Unknown said...

Glad to see you back on the trails!

NattyBumpo said...

Happy Birthday, and it looks like the running gods have given you a nifty present in that you have someone that will happily go for a quick 4 hour run with you now.

I'm fortunate to only have triathletes and marathoners in my neighborhood. You Ultra runners are like zombies (I mean this in a good way) and eat normal runner's brains until we too want to go run from Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in the Grand Canyon.

cathycrisp said...

first off happy birthday!! I am so happy you found a running buddy I am doing a happy jig!! And this post had me laughing outloud!! love it!! WOO HOO rock those runs we have grand slam plans!!! xoxoxoxox mama cathy aka Pea:)

Unknown said...

OMG...First off HAPPY B-DAY!!! I know I already told you on FB, on the phone twice, and now here...but that is what a "devoted" sister I am - :)

Secondly, yep...you.are.a.nut.job.that.is.screwed.in.the.head. Love you. xoxo

Marny said...

OMG sounds like you found the perfect neighborhood!! I'm so glad you found some cool ladies to run with. Crazies unite! I am still cracking up about the bulldozer....only you :) Hope you had a great birthday.

Nursing Stroller-Pushing Marathoner said...

I don't know what is funnier, u running home w/ a bulldozer, or Chloe asking for a bulldozer for Easter :p