Random Observations from Mile Ten

Well, the half-marathon is 5 days away, and I've done my longest run yet in preparation. I plan to just take it easy until the big day (with a spinning class and maybe a short run in between, to keep the legs moving), so I'm effectively finished with my training. Wow.

That said, it seems as though once you start crossing the threshold into "distance" running (and I'm sure it's different for everyone), things start behaving differently. Here's a few things I've noted as time has gone by:

1. I don't really need music, as long as I'm outside. I wouldn't have expected this, being Overstimulated Chick, but there's a nice ebb and flow between enjoying the scenery and just letting your mind wander. No... I haven't kidnapped and hidden the "real Jen" -- why do you ask?
   
2. The more I run outside, the more I despise treadmills. Boring, boring, BO-RING! 3 miles, OK. 4 miles, sure. 5 miles and up?... Tedium. 10 miles? Pure torture. I had to grab a treadmill with a TV and watch something on Discovery about the Titanic just to get my mind off the distance counter. No terrain changes, no scenery changes (unless you count the folks swimming laps in the pool), and no breeze to cool you off. Before last year, I'd never run outside... now I think I'll go cuckoo this winter.
   
3. My knees have gotten stronger the more I run. THAT surprised me. Happily.
4. At ten miles, EVERYTHING chafes. Ow.
5. Running in the rain isn't half bad.
6. I have officially skipped ice cream (ice cream!) to go for a run. Wait... maybe I have kidnapped the real Jen.
7. I get all giddy setting all these goals for myself (in the form of registering for various races). I realize I probably wouldn't push myself without the goals, and I get the added benefit of them being fun, too. For the most part.
   
8. There's quite a bit of camaraderie among other runners, which has been fun to be a part of... little things like signing up for races together, trading tips (stretching, training, um... bra shopping), and just waving hi to folks as you run past.

And all you need is a good pair of shoes and the outdoors.

This is fun... I think I'll keep it up. :-)

My schmoozing family members (and cute kid pics) :-)

Barack Obama appeared in Londonderry today... I may have mentioned in the past that Bill's been working for his campaign, but he and Kelly got some good schmooze time in. ;-) (Kelly's probably negotiated herself a cabinet position, given her personality)

The group shot: (well, a small group anyway)

Sen. Obama and Kelly having a heart-to-heart ("awwwwww" moment):

And Kelly modeling her new shirt. Heh:

And Ellen got her picture in the paper a month or so ago:

And where am I? Working, of course. Figures! :-)

Some more pictures online!

We had a visitor this morning!

Rest of the pictures are on Flickr: <http://www.flickr.com/photos/m0nkeyh0use/sets/72157607965014019/>

Also, all the AZ pictures are online now: <http://www.flickr.com/photos/m0nkeyh0use/sets/72157607962051061/>

Saguaro!

The view (one of the less impressive views, actually) on the way to
the museum.

Another desert museum picture

I'm not in New England anymore!

Due to equipment problems, we had an impromptu half day off. A couple
of us went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (with some incredible
views on the drive in that, unforunately, the iPhone camera couldn't
handle).

Unfortunately, we don't get the sightseeing time that we were counting
on tomorrow. So this was probably it. I'm going to have to come back
sometime with the whole family. :-)

And another

Another Boneyard picture. It goes on and on.

The Boneyard

"The Boneyard": huge field of decommissioned planes (some commercial
ones too) at Davis-Monthan AFB.

On the road again...

This was the view to welcome me to Tucson. I was almost too tired to
realize the vegetation wasn't exactly what I'm used to. :-)

My room is pretty nice: apartment-type of setup with a king bed. That
I'm going to use immediately since it's 1am Eastern time. Yawn. G'nite!

So, what was all THAT about, you wonder... :-)

In case you're wondering what all the picture activity was about last weekend, Bill and I took a long weekend (the first one away from the kids!) to head to Baltimore for the Baltimore Comic Con. Yeah, I know... geeeeeeeeeks! :-)

Bill's gotten to know a lot of folks in the artist community (through shows and getting commissions, etc.), and through one of the online message boards, friends and fans of Tim Sale (Batman/Superman/Daredevil/Hulk Gray artist, as well as the art for Heroes) decided to get together at the Baltimore show for a helluva party. I got to finally meet a lot of the folks I've only spoken to online, and what a fun bunch!

Did I run at all that weekend? Ha! Funny question! :-P

Some of the more random highlights of the weekend (that may only make sense if you were there):

• Opening lunch at Hooters
• 25 (or was it 35) pounds of chicken wings
• Australian chocolate (Lauren! I love you, but you're EVIL!)
• Rich(!) Starkings and I geeking out on our iPhones.
• The sketchtravel book... wow. (lots of beautiful work in there)
• Sightseeing in the rain on Saturday (and Bill's new pair of shoes as a result)
• Dinner for 23 at Lucy's Pub. Me with my Guinness and Bill ("Breezy") with his sea breeze. Hee hee...
• Everyone's pirate booty from the show (some beautiful artwork everyone got... especially the folks who waited in Barry Kitson's line)
• Singalong at the Hard Rock ("The Looooooove Shack...!")
• Hanging out at the OTHER hotel Sunday night (and I'm wondering if I should be thankful that I missed the "Saved by the Bell" discussion)
• Oh, and the most random event of them all: the street gang riding off-road vehicles (dirt bikes and quads) down the middle of the street at dusk. Where do you even BUY dirt bikes in Baltimore? (And I'm bummed I missed seeing the guy fall off the quad... schadenfreude is still alive and well, I'm afraid).

Flickr sets have been posted... lots of fun was had. Next time we get together might be Seattle in April. I'm getting used to this sightseeing in the rain thing. :-)

My Flickr set
Bill's Flickr set

Now I need to break it to the kids that I'm going to AZ for travel next week. Ugh.