#&*%(@!!

Ok, so who is this Pfitz that is making me run 9 miles in the middle of the week and doesn't even call it a "long" run? If this is only the first week of training -- which it is -- I'm in big trouble!

I did my 9. With strides in the last mile. (Hey Matt W, if it says 9 miles, who am I to make it more??). It was pretty ugly. Well, it was ok until the podrunner episode (178 bpm) ended and then I was left with the ipod's choice since it was on shuffle. I think it was incahoots with Pete Pfitzinger in an effort to torture me today by playing Eminem and 50 Cent back to back. Did I really put them on my ipod?

I'll spare the ugly details. Suffice it to say, I started out fine, had a wardrobe malfunction, got a cramp, niggles here, niggles there, and was more than happy to hit the stop button at exactly 9.
Does it get any easier?

Zero Week

Tea says it is time to change the music on my ipod. After all, the NYC Marathon is yesterday's news. I've basked in the glow of my 8 minute PR long enough.



She's right, of course, but the truth is, I can't seem to motivate myself to write anything down anymore. Since it's "zero week" I don't have any immediate goals. I'm going to run in the Thanksgiving Day Race this month (guess when it is) and I want to beat 55 minutes. Last year was a PW (personal worst) for that race at 1:02. But that was the beginning of my Natalie Gets Her Butt in Kick Ass Shape year. After that, the next big race I train for will be the More Half Marathon in Central Park. My goal is 2:00. That will be a biggie, because I tend to think of 2:00 as a breakthrough time for a half marathon. But that's not until April.



I won't be training for a spring marathon because I'll be chaperoning for March of the Living. I'm feeling a little wistful about The Flying Pig. It's the 10th anniversary and I still have some revenge to take on that one. Plus, you can't beat the hometown marathon!

But, in honor of Tea, and a training year that's almost come full-circle. I give you a new song.

Ugh

3 miles. No watch/no time. I started out thinking I would do my Tuesday Tempo, but I have to admit, there was some walking involved today. It's 75 degrees and disgusting out there. I was in need of water before the 2nd mile even though I never carry water for a 3 mile run. Next time, I'll set out a bottle at the halfway point.

I feel like I'm losing some motivation. I'm hoping it's just because the weather has been a drag. My Garmin is on the fritz, hopefully not dead. The clip on my ipod broke so now I have to carry it or buy a new clip. And a weird thing happened on Sunday's run.

I stashed a Nalgene bottle with ice water under a large evergreen tree. On the bottle was a note I attached that said: "Natalie Wolf is running 14 miles this morning." When I reached my bottle after 7 miles, I stopped, filled my small bottles, and stashed it again. After my run, I went back to get it and the bottle was gone. The tree it was under was very old and large and it was in somebodys front yard, but by the street. I knocked on the owner's door but no one was home.
I'm thinking, I can't believe someone actually took my bottle -- with a note on it -- and it was pouring down rain!

Yesterday when I drove by the house, I stopped again. I knocked several times on the front door. I knew someone was home. No answer though. Then I went to the side door and knocked. A woman with a baby answered. I explained that I had left a bottle under the tree and she said, "Does it say Natalie Wolf?" "Yes, it says 'Natalie Wolf is running 14 Miles." So, she turns around and takes my bottle off a table behind her. It is still filled with water and it still has my note on it.

So, I'm asking myself, why did she take the bottle inside the house???

I guess it will remain a mystery. But I'm glad to have my bottle back.