The Commoner's Saint Paddy's Day Run

Today was one of my favorite races ever.  I love it because it's small, lots of people wear tutus, so I know I won't be last, they give out great food after the race AND it's the first 10K I ever really raced.

Okay the race was on March 16th but you get it.  Rob wanted to get there early so that we could park by the start.  Its so nice not to have to shuttle anywhere.  We were there at 0 dark 30 so we had plenty of time before the race.  But really a porta potty in the dark.  Have you ever heard of such a thing?

It wasn't even this light yet.  It was dark.  But I did it.  And there's something to be said for being the first person of the day to use the porta potty.

I love races.  But pre race I do not love.  It's cold I have to pee a lot, you stand around a lot. You small talk.  There's something about Rob that women are drawn to small talk with him.  It happens all the time.  He's very charming I suppose.

I returned from my third trip to the port a potty (daylight version) and Rob is talking to the woman parked next to us.  He says -do you remember the beginning of the marathon in Chicago when a women fell on the first set of grates?  Of course I did.  Everyone saw it.  I was so sad that someone had trained so hard and fallen down at the very beginning.  Turns out that was this woman!  Small world right?  

That's me in Chicago.  Not falling on a grate.

Anyway the race was pretty good.  It was downhill a lot up hill a lot.  I finished a few seconds off the pace I wanted to hit.  It was awesome.  I still feel like I'm getting sick.  I have that my head is really hot and going to explode feeling.  

Rob did the half marathon.  I should have done that.  We were supposed to run 11 miles today.  I ran 6.  

Highlight of the day?  I finished 13th and Rob finished 5th in our age groups.

Walking Dead.  OMG OMG OMG -did you watch that episode tonight?

Song of the day?

First of all-today was the first time I ran to this song and it's got a great beat.

Second the race was in Los Gatos.  Peggy Flemming lives there.  This song was very relevant today-no post code envy 

The Commoner's Arms are Arm Pumping Crazy

It's been a bad week for running.  Tomorrow is the St. Patrick's Day race in Los Gatos but I've been sick all week and my runs have been short.  That's because it isn't the kind of sick you can stay home for-it's the kind you muddle through.

The only day of the week Rob and I actually run together is on Saturday.  His easy pace is my super fast pace so this becomes a speed day for me even though Sundays are the time for Long Slow Distance.

Even though my week of running wasn't good and I was a little sickish I just followed Rob and it was great.  Perhaps my fastest run ever.  I really focused on pumping my arms and staying close behind him and not freaking out when the pace was super speedy.

We went to Cheap Seats.  Not sure what happened there.  The waitress was cute cute cute and nice but the onion rings were greasy and the French Dip came on a Hot Dog bun which didn't stand up to the dipping.  I usually love that place.

Then it was off to Target to grocery shop.  Didn't buy anything interesting-oh wait some summer tights and socks.  I'm obsessed with socks lately.

Highlight of the day?  My two hour nap.  That's how I know I'm getting sick (or fighting something off) a solid sound 2 hour nap under the cover in the middle of the day when I have tons of things to do.

Song of the day?-I'm going back to shock you all and pick a country song.  Well a country song with a rapper.

Florida Georgia Line's Cruise with  Nelly

I usually hate country music but I like the little rap segment -that's original.  But really?  That's a ridiculous name for a band

Random photo of the day-one of 3 appliances I use.

The Commoners Guide to Life the Thursday

I did not run today because I scheduled an off day around a dinner meeting.  I will occasionally do that but only on one run a week.   I can only miss one run a week and only if I HAVE to.  That's why I ran the other day when I was sick or the day I was tired from work.  

Where is that missing plane BTW?  Aliens or an island like LOST?

My dinner meeting was yummy.  Lots of appetizers and then pizza that I love.  I was so surprised how many people were out eating on a Thursday night in Hollister.  You go Hollister!

That's not Hollister-that's a Long Island Diner

It was great to see Joe and Amanda at the house after work.  Joe was working out with Danny.  They ate pizza too.  Since I gave up cooking we eat A LOT of pizza.

Except for Theresa in New Jersey  Real Housewives like myself never cook.

Highlight of the day?  The internet being down at work for a few hours.  I'm not even kidding about that.

Right?  You guys get me? 

Song of the day?
Some song by the group F.U.N. that came on my Pandora mix.  Not the singles that they sing but some other song.  Once it left my yea it 's gone but I was really tired of it.

Random photo of the day?

Potato Chips.  I love their salty, greasy, crunchy goodness.  

The Commoner and the Feverish Run

Today was a super long day.  When I was sitting in my meeting at about 4 O'Clock I suddenly had that feeling.  You know that feeling?  The weird head, the chills, that one.  I've been walking my BFF Chrome book cart around campus-(Disclosure I've let my brauny principal start doing that part because it's too hard) in and out of classrooms.  I'm not used to those germs anymore.

It's dark when I go to work in the morning.  

Anyway I went home it was almost 6 O'Clock, it was 75 degrees.  I thought no way I'm not going.  So I asked danny, "should I go?"  He said yes..  I said I will call you if i feel like i'm dying.

I said WWLD?  (that's what would Labron do?)  and off I went.  I was a little nervous that my Garmin wasn't charged because I never shut it off, so my Nike app and I went easing on down the road.

I did stop to yell at this lady who's little Benjie look alike had gone poop and she was continuing to walk with out picking it up.  I'm like hey your dog went to the bathroom.  I knew I could run faster than her if I had to plus she was on the phone.

There was another dog walker with a long stick and a long rope trailing behind his dog.  I was pretty sure he was a serial killer-I didn't say anything to him.

At the end of the run I was super sweaty and I felt pretty good.  I love being super sweaty.  The run was shortened in half because it was so late and I have so much else to do but it was a run.

The highlight of the day was that at my meeting I felt validated because all my resource teacher friends were feeling the same super stressed out way as me.  That's awesome!  You guys rock.

Song of the day?

Happy by Pharell and his hat.  But it's not a good song of the day.  I love when this song comes on because I like to sing back up -happy, happy, happy.  I'm good at it.  But in running?  I can't backup the song and it just goes on and on and on and on saying the same thing all the time. I'm sorry Pharell -'your fired'

Random photo of the day

Good God it's almost opening day-when all is new and possibilities are endless.

The Commoner Doesn't Feel Like Running

Some days are not meant for running.  For me those days are usually Tuesday.  I'm a little tired from my weekend run still and today I was really tired, it was almost 6PM and it was 72 degrees.  My hip was glitchy and seriously I did not need more self induced pressure of a run at a predetermined pace and distance.  Some days running just can't be that another stressor.

I would have been better off eating a cannoli.

But I did put on my stuff and try to run.  I wasn't going to worry about pace, distance (okay i was going to do three miles not four). I walked a little, I ran a little, I talked on the phone a little, I sweated a lot and then I sat on my porch with my eyes closed soaking up the 6PM Sun-I love the 6PM sun.

Jay Z to toughen me up!

Anyway-the highlight of my day was a big greeting from a second grader who always smiles and runs over to see me even though I've never been his teacher.

To the teachers I worked with this afternoon-hang in there-you inspire me

My favorite song of the day is anything by Aloe Blacc

He's my new favorite-his preorder album finally downloaded and I LOVE it!  It's called Lift your Spirit.  It's the opposite of JayZ.  Yes you know who he is-you know that song  Wake me Up?  That's him-great album -buy it

Hey The Voice finished the chair part.  I love that part.  Now on to setting your team mates against each other and eliminating the people you begged to be on your team.

Caught up on creepy Bates Motel.

Random picture of the day.

Yep pretty much my life

The Commoner's Day Off

Monday is usually my fun day because I take a break from running and usually I don't have meetings.  On top of that the weather is FANTASTIC !

And now it's Day Light Savings Time which means I now have one hour more of sunshine a day.  Except in the morning when I go to work in the dark.

The best thing that happened today was that I burned 2500 Fuel Points without even running from pushing the Chrome Book Cart all over the campus.

This is not my campus, this is Phoenix Park.  Walking those things around all day was no walk in the park.

I was excited because Danny said can I bring Dad dinner home from Safeway?  I said YES!!  I had a cheese quesidilla.

I don't think I even heard a song today but it was Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season finale-The fighting?  Really over what?

The Voice-How cute are those judges

The Following-Nightmares every Monday

I didn't get to watch Bates Motel.  I can't wait to catch up on that.

Here's a picture of the day.  My grandpa on me when I graduated College.  I loved that day.

The Commoner and The Half Marathon

The Commoner has not had much to write about because the Commoner decided her life was to peaceful and induced her own stress by going to school and taking a job change.  This means there is not  much fun going on in the commoner's life.  Not much hijinks.

But there's running.  5 days a week I run.  That has been great.  Last week I ran in the rain and I ran in the dark and I ran 5 times in one week and I ran fast (well fast for me)!

Today bought me to the trail.  I'm always nervous when I do double digit runs even though I've done TONS of them by now.  

I look down at my legs and go really?  10 miles? On these?

But then I start and it's great and I do love my trails.

There were super scary model airplanes at mile 2!  I was pretty sure  one of them were going to fall on my head.  Like the missing plane.  Come on there's a missing plane! They can't find it anywhere?  This is like LOST

It's Malaysia airlines but whatever.

Anyway I was running pretty fast today.  I just was almost to the turnaround and I knew I was going to get caught by a girl runner and I didn't want that and guess what?  I didn't get caught by the runner girl.

There was a cool turkey at 6 miles that I had to stop and look at and I tried to take a picture but I couldn't get out my phone.

It was really hot and I was really thirsty and there was a girl who got a flat on her bike.  All those things happened today.

I love hot weather running and burning 1100 calories.  But I saw a commercial for Pizza and ended up buying it for dinner.  It was yummy.

Walking Dead?  Daryl never get comfortable 
Shameless?  Really-that scene was disgusting.  You know the scene.
The Good Wife -really?  WTF

There were more WTF moments today.  But you get it.

Have a great week.

Song of the run? Moment of Clarity by JayZ

Seriously I need some new running music.

And picture of the day?

I REFUSE to use them