The Commoner and The 17 Mile Run

People often wonder what do you do on a 17 mile run.  Well today was that run and it was great!  I have embraced the long runs.  They are slow, they are scenic, they burn a gajillion calories (which you immediately replenish) the sun, and the music.

For almost 3 1/2 hours today here are some things I did.

Goats are bought to the trail to eat the grass.  There are thousands of them.  They love to lay there but at mile 15 they were on the run.  They were running faster than I was.  Tilt your head. or flip your computer 

At mile 2 they were sitting still.  I decided that I would say hello to them.  They have a dog guard who did not like that idea.  They also had an escaped goat.  I couldn't help them because the dog was going to eat me.

The rest of the run consists of eating chews, swelling gu, and drinking power aid.  Walk breaks every two miles.  Deer crossings, saying hi to every bike rider and runner on the route.  And killing the run.  Here is my new favorite running song.

Okay I'm not going to be world champion and I'm not on a team.  But I love it.  I played it all of mile 13 today!

The Commoner and The Tour of Norcal

Fridays are going to be crazy.  My life is crazy these days but in a good way.  Here is my day.  Now note Friday there is no running and there is no work at my school.   That would make it an easy normal day.

7:30 Head on out to Santa Cruz for training.

I wish.  It wasn't that kind of training.  I'm not a fan of Santa Cruz.  It's far out of the way from every where and I usually can't find parking.  I don't even know how Siri got me there we just ended up at the Office of Education.

1:00 back in the car to San Jose where I have Friday night class.  That's right Friday Night Class.  I'm a city girl, I like city streets and straight Free ways.  I spent my cycling years riding the service road to the Long Island Expressway.  The mountainous pass from Santa Cruz to San Jose to me is a white knuckle fear fest.  Kind of like that roller coaster.

If you google images for Highway 17 most of what you see is car crashes.  I can't imagine having to do this in the rain.  I'm sure I will have to.

Since Santa Cruz lets out at 1-it gives me plenty of time to get over this monster as a white knuckle old lady.  My reward?

That's right!  Macy's Labor Day Sale and Chipotle for lunch.  Oh yeah and some crazy candy store where I bought treats for class.  I even bought treats for my class mates.  They were very happy.

I had 90 minutes at the beautiful mall.  I remember thinking 'come on ! It's 2PM on Friday and you are at the MALL.  Not just any mall.  My favorite mall in the country.  No the world!!   

Back in the car and down the road to San Jose State where it turns out my new professor teaches 3 classes, works full time, AND commutes from Felton to Gilroy to San Jose.  Felton is on HWY 17.  She gets it and I think I'm going to like her.   Plus class got out at 6!

She made us chose writing partners.  That person will be helping us.  The best writer in the class is my partner.  This is really my day.

Then I got home-and decided that even though it was 8 O'Clock  I was going to relax, watch Shark Tank, and play with IPAD.  Then I fell asleep.

That was a great plan.  The problem?  That sleep became a nap and by 10:30 I was awake and ready to start the day.

You know what?  It was a pretty good day.  Fridays, at least every other one-are going to be okay.

The Commoner's Throw Back Thursday

This was fun last time! I'm doing it again!!

Spring 2014-San Francisco Rock and Roll Half Marathon  FUN FUN FUN

AT&T Park 2010  Hit some home runs already!

Beautiful Bella

Crazy fun trip to New York with Lori and Kristen.  Bring on the PIZZAAAAA

Me and My cousin Pat when we were little!

The Family at Danny's Graduation!!

Uncle Rocky back in the day!

My feet which carry me a gajillion running miles!!

This is Rob from I don't know when!  But he had a victory of some sort!

Family Portrait Time!

Throw Back Thursday!!

The Commoner and the Ice Bucket Challenge

I have mocked the ice challenge since it's first go around which involved chugging bear and giving to the charity of your choice.  Then it came around again with rules and a focus.  I'm not making light of ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.  Real Sports with Bryant Gumble (my favorite ever morning host) did a special last year about the guy who was the kicker for the Saints only a few years ago.  To watch him be destroyed by the disease who's cruelest aspect is that your mind never weakens even when your body no longer functions and your voice no longer works and you are very aware of what is going to happen to you.   Google Steve Gleason, read his story, weep -because you will- and then donate and dunk your head.  It's truly heart breaking.

So I never supported this challenge because the whole purpose seemed to be to not donate.  But for every one who does dunk ice there are probably 2 who donate.  And ALS is now being googled all over the world.

My cousin Gina told me she was going to challenge me -I said don't.  She didn't.  But then little Sophia a 4th grader whom I taught when I was in the classroom and who's family I love dearly challenged me and I had to do it.

So without further  adieu  my five favorite Bucket Challenges and please donate to this disease  or read the Gleason story and donate however you think best

http://www.teamgleason.org/donate/

  Ben and Jenn-because with the demise of Jay and B-they are my last favorite celebrity couple

The Rockets because they are awesome and I really wanted to be one.

David Beckham because he's not wearing a shirt

Derek Jeter because he's the captain

George Bush-because he's a lot of fun as an ex president. Come on admit it.

I would share mine with you but I don't know how to do it. Let's say it involved more ice than water, and was really hard to lift. So hard that I missed most of myself. 

If you are challenged try it-if you aren't donate-if you are donate-read about the disease. Count your blessings.

The Commoners Go To The Giants Game

Kristen was on a fun tare for the last week of vacation.  Do we want to go to the Giants game she asked?  We all said "YES".  So Tuesday after work (we were back at let's get ready to rumble) We met at my house and off we went.

Let me tell the story through the pictures on my phone.

This park is the best place ever.  The Giants lead the Major Leagues in attendance and it's no wonder.  The park is an attraction in itself and the game is the background to all that makes it great.  These were our seats.

The first thing you do is eat the garlic fries.  You have to eat them it's a requirement.  Trust me on this.  Do it.  This guy turns out to be from New York and he was there to visit one of the players who is from the same home town as him.  He was showing pictures of the guy and text messages.  He made me swear to not say his name.  But don't panic the player was great.  I wanted Kristen to get this guys number-she didn't.

Ever since the time we dissed Fergie's dad I take strangers with connections at their word but with proof.  

We went back to our seats and watched the game.  See us watching the game?  The game was boring for 8 innings.  There was only one hit until then so we entertained ourselves with selfies.

The guy in front of me had ice on his shoulder.  There was no evidence he was hit with a foul ball. Our seats were under the cover.  You would have to be hit by a line drive.  This was random and I never figured it out.

More selfies.  Do you see behind me?  That was the popcorn stand. I kept asking the lady for free popcorn.  I kept saying just pass some over because we have to smell it and all.  She kept making this no nodding face which to me said.  Ask again later.  Unfortunately when she closed up we had left our seats to walk.

This is the garbage pail that is behind my seat.  You can see it in the selfie above.  It stunk and I had to be really careful not to lean my head back or that handle which was filthy would be my head rest.  I spent the whole game leaning forward-or on Beth.

Since no one on the field from either team was really playing we decided to go for a walk.  If you come to a Giant's game (and you must) don't forget to walk the park.  Do it first before you decide what to eat.  (The garlic fries are mandatory however).  We realized that the popcorn stand was keeping us warm.  It was a lot colder on our walk.

That's Angel Pagan on the score board.  He's very handsome with these deep dark eyes.  I was hoping Rosa would meet him.  I'm so good with setting my friends up with available people.

On your walk of the ball field (you could literally NEVER have to sit in your seat so buy a cheap one on your first visit) make sure to look at the water and the kayakers etc.  I think they left at this point because NO ONE WAS HITTING THE BALL. This yacht was cool.  If Rosa became involved with Angel Pagan we could watch all the games from a yacht.

We went back to our seats and guess what?  It was RALLY time!  The Giants had tied the game.  The Giants are having a rough season so that was something.  I had never noticed that people do this to their hats but they do and Beth was on it.  She kept it on even when the other team was at bat because it was working.  Apparently you aren't supposed to do this but I had never even heard of this before.

We made good friends with our usher and she told Beth you don't wear the rally hat when the other team is at bat.  So Beth switched it and you know what happened? The White Sox scored.  It's all about the mojo.

If the rally hat works don't take it off.

Did I tell you it was Grateful Dead night?  We missed it.  Well Beth didn't we dropped her and Rosa off at the curb and they made it to see parts of the Grateful Dead play.   Beth's a rocker chick.

That was it.  When you can go to a ball game at AT&T park you have to.  When people say what should I do in San Francisco I say go to a GIANTS game.  

Don't remove the rally hat though.

Throwback Thursday Commoner Style

I rarely do Throw Back Thursday because I am always posting old pictures.  I decided however that I should blog some because I have a lot of pictures.  So I will pick some random ones.

This is me running this winter.  I barely look like I'm moving.

This is Rob the time we had the seats at the very TOP of AT&T Park.  I think this was three years ago.

This is Benjie when he was a brand new puppy.  This is 7 years ago.  He was SO CUTE!!!!!!!

This is my van almost 3 years ago.  This is when the Garbage truck hit me and then blamed me for it happening.

This is one of my cool Carleo relatives.  

This is my cousin Lori during one of my let's go to New York for a week and get crazy.  

This is my mother on her first holy communion!  She always looked the same.

This is the Jameson's Factory in Dublin.  Don't forget DO NOT SHOOT THE WHISKEY!! That's the problem with you Americans...

Brotherly bonding over video games...

Meghan and Rob the day she bought her car.  Two years ago I believe.

TBT to last week.  This bar is called Hurricane City.  The drink in the cup is a Hurricane.  This was the setting of the best night ever.  Yes that's Rob's Corona.  New Orleans 2014

Have a great TBT Ya'all

Things the Commoner Sees Running

One thing I have noticed about marathon training is that surprisingly I never get bored.  The time is warped and I actually never really know how long I've runned even when I am achingly aware of EVERY single mile.  One runner to entertain herself started making patterns of her running maps.

One woman mapped out her running routes so her Nike map would look like men's body parts.  I don't know how she had the time for this.   She's dedicated to her running for sure.

I'm always happy when I run.  I'm the runner who always smiles and waves at you because I'm happy to be out there.  It means I don't have an injury, I'm healthy, and somehow I have time.  So first thing of not being bored I'm looking for you so I can wave.  (Plus if I go missing you may be able to identify me)

So today started out as a mundane five mile run.  Except today there were some events that were interesting, terrifying, and unusual.  But luckily-no snakes.

First thing I noticed was a pack of runners coming my way.  I never see a pack of runners and I thought it might be the military but then I realized they were fire fighters.  That was fun!! I passed on the urge to turn around and run with them ONLY because I thought I could never keep up.

I actually got this picture from another runner's blog.  Apparently we think  alike.
 I continued on my run-the part where I pass my house and drop off my water belt before finishing.  Now I always have to be aware of people around me because let's face it-I'm a lone (I really find my running therapeutic and usually prefer it that way) and there are bad people out there.  I notice a guy walking his two dogs.  I'm worried mostly that he will steel my belt.  I leave it outside while I go for the rest of my run-so far no one wants my snotty water belt so it's been good.  He turns and goes back and I go okay lets run.

As I get closer I notice these aren't dogs. These are SHEEP!  And they are freaked out by me and start knocking over their teenage sheep walking dude.  Hello -my neighborhood is not a place of farms its a subdivision!  Plus I am not a native rancher I never know what's going on.  So I have to apologize and say I'm sorry are you walking your sheep?  Where are you from?  I'm sorry I made them mad. Good God walking a sheep.

Seriously I've seen it all.

I continued on my run and made a left turn when this car came careening around the curve.  I had to jump to avoid being hit.  That's great I started to think.  Hurray I have almost been hit by a car.  At least I know the hunky firemen are close by to save me.  Where are they anyway?

I sweat like crazy when I run.  TMI?  Sorry I do.  I sweat like a lunatic.  So the first drops I felt I thought were somehow my own.  But then I noticed it was actually rain drops!  Woo Hoo rain!! You know my trail needs that I'm actually excited.  Except when I look at the sky and realize I've seen that sky before -we could very well have lightening.  This forced me out from under the trees and into the street.

But I thought Hey if I do get struck by lightening there's help running around here somewhere!

Today's run finished off strong.  I'm excited about running. It is never boring I swear.

This song came on during my run.  I love it.

New Orleans Picture of the day

This picture is from outside O'Brian's in Bourbon Street.  Of course the Irish bar in town invented the hurricane.  If you go there drink one.  Then try and walk back to your hotel.  Good luck