Running and Choking

Won't Erin be proud of me? I actually ran so hard that I wanted to puke. Although, there were factors that helped that along other than me running super hard. Aw, shucks, thanks for the cheers in advance.

I got to class late. Sarah was even later. I had talked her into a 3-mile tempo if the first mile was a warm-up. First mile wasn't a warm-up. Before the first 1/4, I said, "This sucks already." We said maybe 10 other words the entire tempo. It was uncomfortable the whole way, and I wonder if warming up would have made a difference.

I swatted a ton of bugs in the 2nd mile. Sarah was fine as she was a few steps behind me, and I blocked the bug walls for her. I did have some phlegm caught in my throat at one point through the bug wall, and I almost stopped to gag. Nothing like will-power to get you through the tough spots. I just remember all the swim legs of my triathlons when I'd get choked up but just keep swimming. Swimming and choking. I guess a little scarier than running and choking.

I could hear Sarah's steps behind me, and I felt obligated to pull us through since I was the wise-gal who talked her into a longer tempo. I also couldn't slow up or she'd fly by me and leave me in the dust. She modestly says that I pulled her along, but you watch out, cuz Holmes is getting f-a-s-t.

I don't have my watch handy, but my overall time was 29.11 for 3 miles. Mile 1 was 9:49, Mile 2 was 9:51?, Mile 3 was 9:30. I did want to puke for a brief few seconds after I finished. Does that count? Or should the puke feeling last longer? I'm new to all this pacing and running fast biz. If I truly ran tempo hard, is a few seconds of barfishness acceptable?

I didn't think I'd beat the 29.30 from last time b/c of all kinds of reasons/excuses. Now I need to work hard to break 29. When I think of that, I get fuzzy inside. Then I remember the Fast Girls ran 26 and 26.30 last time. Once again, I resolve to lose 10lbs and get faster, lol.

Happy Thursday. Don't forget to vote.

How I stunned myself silent

I should write about my tempo run tonight, but that can wait. I want to share something that happened Sunday while driving in the car with my family.

My sister and I have been planning a trip to Longview, Texas to visit our grandmother's old house and the places she took us when we'd visit her there. She died when I was 16, so it's been many, many years since my sister and I were there.

My Granny had a small 2 bedroom house on Mobberly Street. Right next door was a convenience store, and we'd always sneak over there to buy candy (of course to do that meant sneaking into Granny's wallet). Across the street was a Dairy Queen (I think). It actually may have been a few different restaurants, but we'd go there every so often. Her back yard was big, and she had a garden in the far back. We'd help her out there every now and then. Her house had a certain smell, and to this day, natural gas will pop up vivid memories of her house since she had those gas heaters that need to be lit. Gosh, how dangerous those things are/were.

She'd take us to a trail that was beautiful with big trees and red dirt. She would pack homemade biscuits filled with butter and jelly, and we'd walk along the trail and explore. She took us to Pancho's which we thought was the greatest place on earth with it's little Mexican flag on the tables that we'd fight over raising. And somewhere in Longview is a swimming pool that we'd go to during the summers.

Those are just a few of the places and memories - some of the main ones my sister and I mentioned and wanted to see or find. Naturally, we want to visit her grave, which is outside of Longview somewhere.

So, Sunday in the car, I was telling David and the boys all about these places and my Granny. I was so involved in the memories and telling them about this and that, and I realized I didn't know where any of these places were within Longview. How would we even find the trail? Was is a huge city park? Was it some trail outside of Longview? I thought to myself, Well, Dad can show us where all the places are. I actually thought it as though he would draw a map or circle spots on a printed map. The problem with this thought is that my father died over 12 years ago.

It sucked my breath clean out of me when I realized what I had done. I haven't "forgotten" my father was dead in about 12 years. I don't know what came over me, why I thought of him as living and able to map out our trip for us. It wasn't that I was asking him for guidance "from above." I was clearly thinking that he'd help the same way David or my mother would help us map the trip.

Of course it upset me. I told David and the boys and then sat stunned wondering why my brain would trick me in such a cruel way.

So, we may still go to Longview over part of Spring Break. If not, we are hoping for late April. I know we will be shocked to see her house as it was already in a very bad part of town. I hope we can find the trail. I don't so much care about the Pancho's or pool. I want to drive there the same way we always drove there so I can see the same small towns and grain silos. I know we'll find her grave and put some much deserved fresh flowers out for her. She taught me to crochet. She sewed me so many dresses and clothes. She crocheted sweaters, jackets, scarves, hats, and blankets for us. She quilted for us. She saved her meager social security to give us presents at Christmas and birthday. She always gave me those soft peppermint sticks that melt in your mouth because she knew I loved them. She taught us card games like Rummy and domino games and a board game with marbles called Wahoo. And she cooked really amazing country suppers. I loved looking through her costume jewelry and playing dress up with it and her scarves and shawls. I loved looking through her dresser drawers in her sewing room because that is where she kept her bolts of fabric. I didn't show her that I loved her when I was a bratty teenager, and I'm sorry for it. I know she knows I loved her, but I wish I'd been a better kid. I wish I'd been one of those kids that respects and loves her elders even if it's not cool or the elders seem so stupid and irritating.

She's the only person who was allowed (and still is allowed) to call me Jessie.

Butterflies

Would you spend $75 on a butterfly? Probably not, but I did. I could have bought the $180 butterfly or the $146 butterfly, but I won't spend that much on a butterfly. That $75 was some of the best money I've ever spent. Here's a picture of my butterfly:


Yes, yes, it's a bike saddle. Mine actually looks slightly different, but oh, it feels so good. I can't even express how much happier I am with this saddle than my old one (which came standard on my bike). I mean, I can express it, but I'm going to spare you talk of how awesome this women's specific saddle is for specific women's anatomy. Anyway, if you are a woman and have a bike and don't have a Terry Butterfly saddle, go get one! Thanks to Carol for telling me to buy a butterfly. :-)

Friday I ran 7 miles around my 'hood. It was a little rough, but I finished strong. I think it was just a bit boring for the last 4 miles. The first 3 I ran as Elijah and Joshua biked. I'm happy to get a decent long run in...first one since 3M.

Saturday was Marathon Kids, and Elijah and Joshua finished their marathons. Saturday is also the day I bought my saddle, and the day Sarah saved me from buying new bike shoes and pedals that I don't really need. I did see the loveliest turquoise bike jersey at Jack and Adam's. I'll be sporting that and a new helmet very soon. Saturday we also attended the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet for Pack 395. Elijah earned his Wolf Badge, and he is now a Bear rank. Go Elijah!

Sunday, I biked 30 miles. I was set to bike with Sarah and Michelle, another woman from our St. David's MS150 team, but Sarah was suffering from food poisoning. I didn't get the message until too late, so I wasn't able to coordinate with Michelle. Fortunately, David was able to ride with me.

It was so hard at times. The wind was horrible, and I was so happy to hear David agree (as did another cyclist). We rode from our house through the neighborhood and over to the Mopac loop. We were planning to do that loop twice, but the wind just wore me down. We ended up doing two Veloway laps instead of the 2nd Mopac lap.

On the second lap, I got a flat. Boo! On the bright side, I really needed to practice changing a flat by myself. So, okay, David helped, and in fact, I wouldn't have been able to even loosen the knob thing that keeps the wheel on. He was barely able to loosen it. I did do a lot of the work myself, and I think next time, I might be able to change it on my own.

We finished back through the neighborhood. David finished with 26 miles, and I rode around for another 4 miles. Surprisingly, my legs weren't sore after that ride. I did wake up with sore shoulders and neck.

Today I did 3 very easy mile repeats at Gazelles. I didn't want another hard work-out after my long run and bike this weekend.

Sorry this is a little boring. I have nothing to report on the sewing front. I meant to sew some this weekend, but we were busy, busy, busy. That's likely to remain the status quo as T-ball is back in session and DV is training for the Cap 10K. Sometime soon I should start fundraising for the MS150.

Blah, blah, blah

Yowsers, I didn't realize it had been so long since I wrote. Something in our fridge stinks, and yet I can't find the source due to nasal congestion. I'm not congested enough to not smell it though. Oh, the irony.

No sewing whatsoever has been done since my last report. I think Joshua has actually forgotten about it, but we have a 3-day weekend which will include finishing that robe. I need to add the sleeves, hem everything, and add a fastener at the neck. Sounds simple, but I'm sure it will vex me.

Running...no good long run to mention. My family did the Cupid's Chase 6K a couple of weeks ago. David blogged about it a bit. I ran with Elijah and Joshua. They were amazing and finished the entire 3.7 miles. As DV said, 3.7 miles is a long way for a 6 and 8-year-old.

The next weekend I meant to do a long run, but David ran early and I volunteered at the Marathon Expo. Marathon morning I was at the Gazelle Water Stop and then went to the finish to cheer. Allison and I ran from the finish to mile 23.5 where we found Staley. We ran in with him, so I am counting that 4-5 miles as my long run (weak, I know). I was supposed to bike last weekend as well, but I didn't. Tsk, tsk.

My routine that I am trying to stick to is as follows:

MW - Gazelles
T/Th - stationary bike at the gym (at least one of these days)
F - running or off
Sa - long run or bike
Su - long run or bike

Monday Gazelles was hills, and I felt rather tired. Tuesday I biked for an hour at the gym. My right knee keeps bothering me, so I really should tend to it. It's just not hurting enough to force me to pay attention. Wednesday was fartlek, and I felt tired and heavy. I have felt that way since 3M, and I guess adding in biking is the cause. Thursday was too busy to do anything, and with my allergies, it felt nice to take a day off.

Today I'm hoping to do my long run, so I can sleep in tomorrow before Marathon Kids. If for some reason I don't run tonight, then I will meet my friends at 7am for a 7 mile run. Sunday, Sarah is coming here, and we'll bike 25-30 miles from the house down to the Mopac loop and Veloway. It won't be the flashiest ride, but we need the miles. I'm looking forward to the ride b/c I should have a new seat and shoes, as Sarah and I are shopping tomorrow. Finally, my butt might have some relief.

David found a funny blog yesterday, and I stayed up late reading many of the posts. Take a peek at it, if you are so inclined.

Oh, David also found this fabulous photo of me and Joshua from the Cupid's Chase 6K (did I mention David won 1st in his age group and 10th overall?? And that was after being really, really, REALLY sick for 2 weeks). If my eyes aren't closed in a photo then David's eyes are closed. We make quite the pair.

No clever, witty anecdotes this time

Running, sewing, Valentine's Day brouhaha...irritating manufactured holiday.

I've got allergies (who doesn't in Austin, Texas?).

I've felt puny all week, but I toughed it out and went to class Monday for 800s at Zilker. Warmed up and cooled down to and from Runtex so proly got 4 miles or so total. I was supposed to do 4 800s, but Coach said we could cut it short since dusk was upon us. I felt like a wimp for quitting and actually started to go do my 4th one, but my running partners for the day told me we'd get a good run in on the way back to Runtex.

Tuesday - puny again but super-motivated and energetic after school. I must have inhaled some speed on the way home as I was cooking and doing laundry and cracking the whip on the boys. We went to the gym where I biked for 45 minutes and then watched them at Hoop It Up. Back home for more speed-induced craziness of more cooking, cleaning, boy-tending, Evite-making, and Valentine party-prep finishing. One would not have known I didn't feel superb.

Wednesday - Exhausting day at preschool. Party days generally are. Still feel puny. How many times can I say puny in one post? It's just the best way to describe me thus far this week. I read and slept during Elijah's piano lesson when I should have been looking for a new bike seat and shoes. I really didn't want to go to class tonight, but I did. I know that sometimes running makes me feel better when I'm sort of sickly. I was dreading 400s even though it's my favorite work-out. I didn't know if I had it in me today to do 10 fast repeats. Like Andre, I thought I'd at least show up a do a bit of the workout. I had to show up today because Sarah was returning after a week and a half absence. Turns out there was a Lacrosse game on the track field, so Bernard sent us to do Fartlek. My group did the 4-mile loop, and it was a great work out.

Fyi, the Congolese girls need some running clothes. If you want to get them something or donate, let me know. Meg is going to find out sizes. I just don't like seeing them in the same hand-me-down clothes for running - and they aren't even running clothes (or in Bijou's case, exercise clothes). They are such great girls, and a new pair of running shorts will thrill them.

I had some clever and witty anecdotes to share, but I'm too tired to remember them right now.

For those interested...I'm still sewing the Jedi Robe. I made even more stupid errors, but I've fixed them all. I haven't sewn since Saturday, and Joshua didn't pester about it until today. If I don't finish it soon, it's going to become an Albatross.

Rather long 3M report

I promised some 3M details and figured I had better follow through before time gets away from me yet again. It is almost silly to write about it 2 weeks later, but write about it I shall.

I went in with a plan and finish time goal. I printed a pace band out since my David wasn't going to able to run with me. I chose a pace that I thought was doable - a 10:30 pace. I know, I know. That is super slow, but I've never paced in a race ever, and face it, I'm slow!

I arrived super early and wandered around looking for some Gazelles. There was no line at the toilets, so I took advantage of a probably as-of-yet-unused toilet. I saw Staley and a few others. Gilbert made me put my long pants on to stay warm. I found Leslie and then eventually Elizabeth and David A. They had seen Gayatri and Barb warming up. I did also find Erin, who was beaming about warming up for the first time ever in a race.

I was so happy to finally find Gayatri and Barb as it was approaching 6:45am by then. They were done warming up, so I did a little jogging about. Sundeep took some photos of us, and we waited until the last minute to hand off our jackets to him. The sunrise was lovely. The horn blew. We were off.

I knew to take it slow the first mile. I hadn't run the first 5 miles in any training runs, so I was not sure what was ahead. I just planned to stay on my 10:30 pace and look for Sarah at the corner of Mesa and Spicewood Springs. I ran with Gayatri and Barb for perhaps 1/4 mile before I started speeding up. Mile 1 marker came and my time was 10:19. Remember that time as it's quite serendipitous. I was happy to see that...not too fast and not too slow. I felt great and happy.

Mile 2 had a water stop...actually before. So many folks around me were stopping. No way was I stopping that early for water. Mile 2 was 10:31. I remember telling myself to slow it down and not get going too fast. There was also a lot of passing and being passed as people found their pace.

Fairly early in the race I told myself, "Stay on target. Stay on target." We have a lot of Star Wars in this house, so I heard Red Leader's voice to Luke in my head. I just needed to focus and stay on my pace plan. At this point I was really looking forward to seeing Sarah. Not having David or the boys there was a sadness, so I really wanted to see Sarah's face cheering for me.

A friend and former Gazelle ran by me around mile 3 - Tina. She is such a great runner. She was picking her pace up as she passed me. She had realized she'd been dawdling and needed to get a move on if she was going to reach her goal (I believe her finish time was around 1:45). Mile 3 time was 10:01. I had sped up, but I felt fine.

I passed the 2nd water stop as well. I didn't want to lose time and didn't want a goo this early. I saw Elizabeth and David walking the wrong way. I called out and Elizabeth said she wasn't doing well. She'd been sick with a stomach bug the week before. Shock and disappointment for her hung with me for a few minutes. She was hoping to do a 2 hour race, and I really think she would have done it if she hadn't been sick.

I saw Sarah before she saw me. I could see concern on her face as she focused on people running by trying to find familiar faces. I called out to her and waved both arms. She smiled and cheered. My emotion at seeing her caught me by surprise. A lump formed in my throat as I rounded the corner onto Spicewood Springs. I didn't realize how much I was looking forward to seeing someone I loved and who loved me. It's nice to have anyone cheer for me, but now I know it's crucial to have someone dear to me there to cheer me on.

Mile 4 time 10:00. I still felt fine. Of course, it's all downhill, which I knew but didn't really know because I hadn't run this part of the course before. Mile 5 time was 9:27. I said to myself, "What the f--- are you doing?" I felt fine. I didn't think I was running that fast. Later I learned from Gilbert that I should not have run that particular mile that fast. I should have known that mile was there and to take it easy. However, I never ran that part of the course b/c Gazelle half-marathoners started at mile 5 of the race during our training run.

I stopped at the water stop between 5 and 6. I had taken my goo at the mile 5 marker. I walked while I drank some water, then I was off. I continued my mantra: Stay on target. Stay on target. I was thrilled to be feeling so good and being doing it. I was doing it!

Mile 6 time was 10:41, which includes water stop. Mile 7 was 10:27. I dreaded the bit on Burnet Road. Burnet Road is horribly dull and long. After seeing Sarah, my next goal was to get through the relay exchange area and half-way point. After that, I wanted to get past Burnet and to the coffee shop at Guadalupe and North Loop where Sundeep was waiting. I was pleasantly suprised to hear someone say, "Go, Jessica!" on Burnet Road. I looked over to see an old school friend, Julie, and her fiance (perhaps hubby by now). What a sweet boost! Julie is also a former Gazelle, and I have known her since since elementary school.

I really pushed it to mile 8. That is the only mile marker I thought took too long to arrive. It was the only time I thought, "Where is that &%@ mile marker?!" I planned to take another goo there and get water. Mile 8 time was 9:53. I took goo and water and headed off to mile 9 and the joys of leaving Burnet Road behind.

North Loop was okay. I did a lot of "Stay on Target" chatting here. Staley ran by telling me how great I looked and how good I was doing. At the time, I had no idea why he was passing me. Of course at home after the race I read the Gazelle forum and found out he had passed out at the start. Staley is amazing. He looked great and passing me was effortless for him. I told him, "It's getting harder," to which he replied, "We've been here before." Good words at a good time. Another unexpected boost to pull me along. Mile 9 - 10:31. Fairly good since there are some up hill spots on North Loop.

Sundeep also didn't see me until I called to him. He seemed surprised to see me. I approached the 10 mile marker and was furious to see the water stop 10 or 20 feet in front of the marker. Good grief. Can't they put the stops either at the marker or right after the marker? Mile 10 time 10:40, which includes a water stop.

When I got on Duval, I knew I had it in the bag as long as I stayed on a 10:30 pace. In hindsight, I wonder if I should have pushed more here since it's downhill. At the time, my conservative nature kicked in, and I planned to run 10:30 until the last mile when I would push it. Another friend found me during this time, Karen. I had cheered for her at mile 14 of the ARA 30K. She came up behind me and stayed with me for a while, chatting. I kept telling her I couldn't chat and had to focus, but it's hard not to keep up a bit of conversation when someone is talking. It was another nice boost, but I was glad to send her along ahead and sink back into my brain and my Stay On Target Mantra.

Mile 11 - 10:33
Mile 12 - 10:26

I was starting to feel dizzy and debated taking water at mile 12. I had taken half a goo around 11.5, more out of something to do rather than really needing fuel. I stopped at mile 12 water stop thinking I would sip some water and then really get going and try to run a 9:30 last mile. This is also the first time I looked at my pace band. For mile 12, I should be at 2:05 to reach my goal of 2:17. The clock on top of the mile marker said 2:05. Yikes! I better get in gear. That timing goof was the first sign of not being quite right.

I was dizzy the entire last mile. Running through campus was torture. I don't know why I was dizzy. Later, Gilbert tried to say I didn't have enough long runs (hah!). Bernard scolded me for waiting too long to start my goos. "You can't get that nutrition back," he wisely told me the day after the race. I wondered if my vertigo was a factor. Needless to say, I didn't run a 9:30 last mile. That last mile I just tried to forget being dizzy and forget that the clock was ticking away on my goal.

Last year, my David told me he hated running on Trinity. I know why now. You can see the finish line the whole way, but it's so far away. Too soon for a sprint but too far to keep shuffling along. It was like a house of mirrors as I ran forward, but the finish line never got closer. I had a brief moment of wondering if David and my boys would be there. David had said they might be if he woke up without a fever. I had to shake that thought away so I wouldn't set myself up for heartbreak if/when I didn't see them.

The finish got closer. The crowds grew thicker. People were cheering, but I couldn't hear them. I tried to scan them for a familiar face - any familiar face, but I couldn't spare the energy. Some man was trying to out-sprint me, so I picked it up. I could see the finish line clock and watched it tick through 2 hours 16 minute and then into 2 hours 17 minutes. I was missing my goal! I told myself to sprint and just get there before it turned to 18 minutes.

Mile 13 - 10:36 (includes that last water stop)
Last .1 - 57 seconds

I got my chip cut off, took a bottle of water, and dizzily walked to get my medal. "Medal me," I said to best looking girl standing there. I went on down the chute to the food and saw Kenny Hill standing there. I must have looked rather disoriented, because he asked, "Who are you looking for?" I babbled something, and then I wisely stood there talking to him. It was only then that I realized that I had beaten my goal time by 2 minutes. I had been fooled by those mile marker clocks. It's funny how your brain works in the last miles of a race. I knew the entire race that those clocks were gun time and to ignore them. But at mile 12 and 13 and 13.1, I forgot all that and panicked that I was somehow not going to do it. My brain didn't even try to be logical; in it's warped state, it just trusted those wretched clocks.

Final chip time: 2 hours 15 minutes.

If I hadn't stopped at that mile 12 water stop, I could've been 2:14 something. Foiled!

I was and still am so proud of myself. I paced myself, all by myself. It gives me much confidence to try it again in a future race.

I am also quite proud of My Girls. I hope they don't mind that I post their times:

EEL, aka The Fast Girls

Elizabeth - dropped out due to illness, which was wise and rather brave on her part.
Erin - 2:01.30 - just missed her goal of sub-2 but how super fast is she!
Leslie - 2:07 - so dang fast!

My 5k/10k Girls:

Barb - 2:19 - Ms. I-just-want-to-do-under-2:30
Gayatri - 2:21 - Another Ms.-under-2:30

For all you fast folk out there, congrats on your super fast race(s). But just know that we may be slow, but we work just as hard as you. And even if some people think that running only qualifies if you are under a 9 minute pace, I'm pretty sure We are Runners.

Oh right, remember that 10:19 first mile? Well, my overall pace was 10:19.

So, my David was indeed too sick to come to the finish. It's the first race ever that he wasn't there to cheer me on. It was weird for me. I have no photos of me in this race except the crappy Sport Photo pictures. Here's one of my finishing:

It's not just me

Someone wouldn't have invented the seam ripper if I was the only person who totally screwed up while sewing a very simple garment. I'm actually embarrassed to say how many mishaps occurred yesterday while sewing a Jedi robe for Joshua.

Can someone offer me a free Sewing 101 class (perhaps I could actually clep out of that one and go to 201)? I promise to amuse you to no end!

For the scant few who actually read and care, I also promise 3M details, MS 150 training details, hilarious sewing tales, a bit of Jane Austen chatter, perhaps some original poetry, and of course tidbits of two rather clever boys.

Smokin'

I haven't felt like writing, which is odd after a race in which I, for the first time ever, paced myself. I mean, I've had other races where I "paced" myself at basically my slow long-run pace. I've done triathlons where I ran the run portion in what I expected to run. I have never run a race like I did 3M. I did it by myself (my pacer fell ill), and I did it 2 minutes faster than my goal.

But I just didn't want to blog this week. Elation lasted into Monday, and still I had no desire to blog. Every time I thought about this blog, I got itchy and irritated. Sunday afternoon I was excited to list my split times and talk about the race. I will write about it later to preserve my memories before they fade into grocery store runs, school activities, spelling words, 100th day projects, Jane Austen novels, appointments for this and that, flu virus, fever virus...

Fevers. Maybe my peevishness sprouted from my children and David being very sick for days and days. Somehow, I escaped it. I erected a 3M shield to block any germs or negative thoughts of germs and said the shield could collapse at noon on Sunday. Well, shields are holding even through a week of serious illness at the preschool I work at. Children and teachers galore are out sick with Type A Flu (of course the flu that can get you even if you got the flu shot). In fact, our school is closed today due to so many teachers having the flu. There simply aren't enough of us healthy to fill the classrooms. Somehow, my shields are still holding. I wonder if vertigo sends out a barrier bubble or something?

So my kids were sick. David was really sick. I've never seen him that sick. It was very strange going to a race and never once seeing him or my kids. I knew I wouldn't see them, but it was still odd. There was no one to take a picture of me on the course (other than crappy Sport-Photo people). The only candid shots I have are the ones Sundeep took of me, Gayatri and Barb before and after the race. Ah, but after seeing the Sport-Photo ones, I probably don't want a candid shot afterall.

Fevers are gone. Family is healthy...mostly. I'm not sure David is healthy, but he's getting there. I think Familyvance is looking forward to Spring. Blessed Texas is sure to deliver.

Smoking. I have been wanting to write about smoking. I grew up with parents who smoked. In fact, my mom may have smoked while pregnant. I disliked the smoke growing up, but I've grown to despise it. I can smell cigarette smoke a mile away. I smell it in my car if the person driving in front of me is smoking. That startles me as I'm wondering where it's coming from. I hate going to my mom's house now even though she has tried so very hard to cut back on smoking in the house (and cut back in general). The smoke hangs on everything. Everything reeks of old, dank smoke. If you walk in her house even for a few minutes, your hair and clothes will smell like smoke - and she doesn't even have to be smoking at the time.

I need to say here that she has gone to great lengths to remedy that b/c Familyvance stopped visiting. She washed curtains and smoked outside, etc. It's much better now, honestly. Although, I still can't stand the smoke.

Gayatri and I smelled smoke on the trail Wednesday during our 4-mile easy-effort tempo (or recovery run, whatever you want to call it). I looked everywhere, craning to see who the f-dash-dash-dash was smoking on the hike-and-bike trail. I could not see the person, so I don't know how far away the culprit was. It fired up my peevishness, and I ranted for a good half-mile about smoking. Poor Gayatri.

Here's an interesting thing I heard Dr. Oz of Oprah fame say the other day: Children growing up with smokers basically are "smoking" 1 in every 4 cigarettes their parents smoke. Hmm...if that is true, I grew up "smoking" since I was born - maybe 1/2 a pack a day? Isn't that a staggering statistic? I don't know how he got that number. We've always heard that second-hand smoke is horrible, and I've inhaled tons of it.

I've often wondered why I have trouble breathing when I run "fast." Sometimes it's due to being out-of-shape. Other times perhaps I'm pushing too much. But over time, it's consistent. No matter how much I've been running and training and doing speed-work, I still have trouble breathing...more so than it seems my counterparts. I watch runners excel doing the same amount of running that I do. I know genetics plays a huge role, and I know I'm not genetically inclined to be a runner (made for comfort!). I just wonder if all that smoke for 18+ years affected me. I know really fast runners who grew up with smokers, too. So who knows.

I look forward to the day when smokeless cigarettes are invented. If people want to smoke, good for them. I just don't want to smoke with them.