Blue Dog Nights

That Is Some Serious BS September 14, 2009

So a big, huge congratulations to my half marathon hero Bethany Snyder (aka BS)! Yesterday marked her completion of half marathon number 5 with a fantastic time of 3:22:18. Now that’s what I call some serious power walking. And that’s not even a personal record. She once walked a 2:59. I didn’t even know people could walk that fast.

And not only did BS train and compete. She helped train a great group of folks known as Gilda’s Gang from the Gilda’s Club of Rochester, NY. Gilda’s Club is a kind of support group/clubhouse where men, woman, and children can share their hopes and fears, wisdom and information, and learn together about living with cancer. The team raised over $30,000 for this tremendously important organization. Way to go Gilda’s Gang!

So I finished up my second week of training yesterday for the upcoming Mardi Gras Half Marathon on February 28, 2010. On Saturday I was supposed to do a combination of running and walking 5 miles. Now…I’m going to be honest and let you know that that didn’t happen. Yep, I am a big loser. But I have some excuses (yeah, I know, no excuses). But it was totally raining like cats and dogs and I’m too much of a wousse to train in the rain. Yes, I could have gone to a gym to train, but I’m too poor to join a fitness club. And yes, I could have gone over to the Rec Center and done laps around the B-ball court, but it was set up for a wedding reception and I would have needed to do hurdles over chairs and tables. So I figured the best alternative was to kick back, watch a tremendously exciting Michigan-Norte Dame game while stuffing my face with jambalaya and washing it down with a few Bud Light Limes.

After a fitful, guilt-ridden sleep, I decided I would do my 5 miles no matter what on Sunday. So when I got a phone call at 7:30 AM with an offer to go to the Saints-Lions game, what did I do? I know what you’re thinking, but nope, as hard as it was, I turned it down and missed out on my chance to go to the Superdome for $6 sausage poboys, $7 nachos, $8 beers and priceless people watching. Nope, no pain no gain right?

So after the gym returned to it’s normal status from the wedding reception the previous night (yes, I did get to listen to “Play That Funky Music White Boy” and “Down of the Bayou” while trying to sleep in my home on wheels next door), it was time to do some laps. And from my calculations, it was going to take 100 laps to complete my 5 miles .  Ugh…so boring. It really needs to stop raining in southern LA so I can get back to training outside along the picturesque Bayou Petit Caillou.

So I started off walking. Then did a little running. Then a little more walking. And a little more running. And guess what? My knees might just not be up to running the MGM. I think I might need to slow down on the running and focus more on walking instead for a while. I know I joke about feeling old from time to time, but honestly, this is really the first time that I actually do feel old. And no, I don’t like it one bit.

So as I ticked off lap after lap, I decided that if Bethany and Gilda’s Gang could do a half marathon, I could certainly do a half a half in their honor. So after 2:05: 23, the old iTreadmill on my iTouch read 6.55 miles. Yep, I do need to pick up that pace and I pledge to keep working on it, but can I just tell you how wonderful it was to look at my training schedule this morning and see the words “blissful day off” for today?

And if it weren’t raining for 40 days and 40 nights in southern Louisiana, I’d go fishing this morning to celebrate. But alas, I guess I need to find me a pirogue and paddle to work instead.

BS–Did you ever know that you’re my hero? And PS, I hope you don’t mind me ripping those pics off your blog. I just love the smiling pic of you at the Houston Marathon.