Quarantined

When I was a kid, I always wanted to get pink eye. To me, conjunctivitis was the BEST form of sickness. Why? Because overally, you feel fine, except for a red eye. And yet you're highly contagious so you can't go to school. Nothing to do for a few days except sit on the couch and watch a lot of television.

I never had pink eye as a kid, though. Maybe only once.

By the time I got to college, though, I got pink eye on five different occasions, always during finals. Apparently my eyes just couldn't stand up to the stress of final exams and the germs of all UVA students at Clemmons Library. Pink eye, as it turns out, does not mean sitting on the couch and watching a lot of television when there are final exams to be taken.

I have no idea how, but again this week, I contracted pink eye. Or some other strange eye infection - the doctor isn't quite sure. Pink eye, it seems, never comes at a good time. I had a system to launch this week, and I had to do it all from my prison cell bedroom with one eye.

PINK EYE SUCKS.

Four days have passed. My eye is no longer a second runny nose on my face. But I am tired. And I have missed a week of working out because I couldn't leave my room. So today's run should be interesting... But at least I'm no longer QUARANTINED!

Chase to the Finish

I have found my newest obsession. And in all seriousness, it should come as no surprise that my latest obsession is electronic. Manufactured by Apple, and related to my iPod. I mean, I am obviously obsessed with all things Apple.

But the fact that it also incorporates music and running? Well, that's just pure genius. I'm a little late on the bandwagon to buy one, yes. (But it didn't hurt those who waited to buy the iPhone! Sticker price is down $200 today!!! I digress...)

Yes, my new obsession is the $30 Nike+. And in all honesty, my new obsession is the Challenge feature. Maybe when I was younger (ha!) or less stressed (sounds more like it...) I could self-motivate to push beyond my personal limits. Well, right now, I'm tired. And it seems that I only run when I'm being chased...

Challenge #1 is "40 Days to 30 Years." Yes, My Guy is turning 30 soon. So to celebrate, he's planning on doing a triathlon and I'm going to help him with his training. Little does he realize how much he'll be helping me with my own!

California International Marathon Training Program 2007

Here she is... The training plan for the California International Marathon.

I found it on Runner's World, and I think it's a pretty good start for me given where I am right now. Running hasn't been my focus for a while, and to be honest, I don't know how this is going to go!

Mondays and Fridays are rest days, so I'll hopefully be able to get in some weight training then to stay toned. We'll see how the first week goes, but I'm expecting to replace many of the 3 or 5 mile runs with rides and swims. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I just don't think I can run this much without spending any time on the bike or in the water!

Ready to run...

Week	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Saturday	Sunday	Total
09/03	2 miles GP 4x1 mile T (1:00) 2 miles GP	3 miles 5x100 S	70-minute run, including 5:00–6:00 TUT	5 miles	10 miles	35–39 miles
09/10	4x1,200 C	3 miles 4x100 S	70-minute run, including 5:00–6:00 TUT	5-K race	12 miles	28–30 miles
09/17	2 miles GP 2x2 miles T 3 miles GP	3 miles 6x100 S	80-minute run, including 6:00–8:00 TUT	5 miles	15 miles	39–43 miles
09/24	2 miles GP 2x2 miles T 3 miles GP	3 miles 6x100 S	80-minute run, including 6:00–8:00 TUT	5 miles	16 miles	39–43 miles
10/01	2 miles GP 3x2 miles T (2:00) 3 miles GP	3 miles 6x100 S	4x1 mile	5 miles	16 miles	44–47 miles
10/08	2 miles GP 3x2 miles T (2:00) 3 miles GP	3 miles 6x100 S	4x1 mile	5 miles	17 miles	44–47 miles
10/15	1-hour run, including 2x1,200 C 2x400 SI	4 miles	4x800 S 6x100 S	10-K race	6-8 miles	32–34 miles
10/22	2 miles GP 4x2 miles T (2:00) 3 miles GP	3 miles 6x100 S	90-minute run, including 8:00–10:00 TUT	4 miles	18 miles	45–51 miles
10/29	2 miles GP 4x2 miles T (2:00) 3 miles GP	3 miles 6x100 S	90-minute run, including 8:00–10:00 TUT	4 miles	19 miles	45–51 miles
11/05	3x1 mile C 3x800 SI	3 miles 6x100 S	75-minute run, including 6:00–8:00 TUT	4 miles	20 miles	46 miles
11/12	3x1 mile C 3x 800 SI	3 miles 6x100 S	75-minute run, including 6:00–8:00 TUT	4 miles	13 miles	45 miles
11/19	2 miles GP 4 miles T	3 miles 6x100 S	1-hour run, including 6x400 SI	Rest	1-hour run	27–29 miles
11/26	4x400 SI	Rest	3 miles 6x100 S	2-mile jog	Marathon

• T = Tempo = 8:00 (mile). Recovery is slow jogging for the number of minutes in parentheses.
• C = Cruise Intervals = 7:30 (1600) and 3:40 (800). Recovery is half the distance of the repetition.
• SI = Speed Intervals = 3:30 (800) and 2:00 (400). Recovery is equal distance.
• TUT = Total Uphill Time = The total number of minutes you spend running semi-vigorously up inclines.
• S = Strides = Gradual, smooth accelerations over 100 meters (straightaway on a track), running fast and controlled over the middle third--but NEVER SPRINTING--then just as gradually decelerating. Walk to full recovery after each.

What You Waiting For?

Labor Day in San Francisco - The summer has finally STARTED!

It has been a gorgeous weekend here in The City. A Friday night swim followed by a relaxing night with my book... A bike / BART ride over to Oakland on Saturday to see the A's Game followed by an evening in North Beach with new and old friends... A homemade Sunday brunch with My Guy followed by a long run out to The Bridge and back.

For the past several months I have been pulled in many directions, mostly towards my cubicle and all of the work that constitutes "The Busy Season" for a software company who consults to pharmaceutical companies and biotechs. However, now that summer in San Francisco is FINALLY here, there is only one thing to do - get out there and enjoy it.

With swims, and rides, and runs...

I haven't been able to find a triathlon that I can do this fall. I'm heading to Budapest, Hungary and Paris, France in the next couple of months for work. And though I would love to tell them that I have triathlons those weeks, I can't really resist a free trip - let alone TWO FREE TRIPS - to Europe.

So the only thing left to do is gear up for another marathon.

So to celebrate two years living in California, I am going to run the California International Marathon this year. There is no backing out - I can't let 2007 be the first year since graduating from college when I didn't run my favorite distance race - 26.2. The countdown to Sunday, December 2, 2007 @ 7:00 AM is on...