18.52 Miles and OMG, I'm getting old!

I'm like the lion in The Wizard of Oz right now.  Well, when it comes to my training.

I am SCARED.  I am scared of injuring myself.  I am scared of my legs giving out during my long runs.  I am scared of pushing myself too hard during my lifting sessions in fear that my legs will kaput during my runs.  I am a weenie right now!

And it's so unnecessary.  I have 3 sets of eyes making sure that I do things correctly and doing instant modifications.  And yes, all three don't think twice about telling me what to do.  Just the other day, Eric told me to straighten my feet when squatting, Brian offered corrections during my bench press and Tony kept reminding me to arch my back during pull throughs.  It's like having three sets of parents!  Yes, I'm running slower but I am injury free and I have NEVER made it this far without a trip to the ortho or podiatrist.  In fact, my chiro the other night said, "You're feeling pretty good.  They're doing something right over there."  I'd like to think that I'm doing something right too; but he's correct;  The CP Coaching Crew is on top of me; sometimes literally.  Ooh, I should get pictures of that!

I ran 18.52 miles yesterday.  With only running once this past week.  I am not sore at all today.  I was only supposed to run 18 miles but my calculations were a little off.  I really thought that CP was 9 miles from the house.  Try 9.26.  I realized at about 8.75 that it was going to be over 9 miles and seriously thought about not running the entire way.  That's when fate stepped in.  Anna drives by me and starts waving.  Oh no, I thought.  I've got to run there and back now.  If I don't they'll all wonder what happened to me.  I ran the extra .26 miles and was greeted by an enthusiastic Anna and an "OMG, look at her" Eric and Tony.  See, they never see me in my training garb.  My black tights, my baseball cap, and my fuel belt.  Tony looks at me and says, "I want a picture of this.  Go do a glute ham raise and I will blog it."  What he should have taken a picture of was my face when he said that.  Then he starts doing these Ninja moves that only Tony could do and starts asking me where my arsenal of weapons are.  "You have knife or blades in that belt."  Eric then looks at my Gatorade Endurance which is similar in color to urine and asks if I peed in my bottles.  Anna had been nice enough to get me some water and looking back I should have thrown the damn bottle at both of them.

I passed some CP clients (on the way to Hudson) on the way home and it was nice to see some familiar faces and have people scream out of their car at me.  I had 20 minutes to shower and pick up Amelia before my hair appointment.  I literally fell asleep in the chair while eating my yogurt, apple and cheese stick.  How in the world was I going to stay up for the Throwing Muses that night?  To add to my day, Aquaman crashed the Aquamobile so now we have to get a new car.  We were looking anyways but now we are REALLY looking.

We hit Harvard Square for some much needed food before heading over to the concert which was at The Middle East.  I read the sign going in; Throwing Muses on at 11:30.  WTF?  OMG, 11:30?  I was hoping it would be over by 11:30 and the promise of my space monkey pajamas would be a near reality.  I look at Aquaman; it's 8:30.  We find a HARD WOODEN BENCH (which felt so good on my sore ass let me tell you) to sit on and hang out.  We actually had a really good time.  I would get up and stretch, we played with his Blackberry, we hit the bar, we took pictures.  I totally think I am channelling my inner Mexican Spice with this one:
See how much more alert I look after one Harpoon?

So I notice this couple and I really love the girl's hair.  It looks a lot like mine!  Then her husband looks at us and says "Is that Vic?  OMG, it's Vic!"  WOW!  Aquaman knows people at a concert and I don't?  Turns out it was a childhood friend who later became a business associate.  Story gets better.  They are a lot of fun and we're talking and I say, "They better come on soon, I ran 18.52 miles today and I'm going to fall asleep."  They both perk up; "You're a runner?"  I tell them yes and give them my story.  They then start asking me LOTS of questions, one of them being, "What's your half marathon pace?"  O.k., I should have known something was up there.  He asks, "Do you want to join our Relay to the Beach Team?"  Spooky kooky!  I had just told Aquaman at dinner that I wanted to do that!  They have 6 people and are looking for 4 more and want me to join!  Of course I said yes.  People, it's a 24 hour race in the hills of New Hampshire.  I've heard it's wild!  And that is so me.

We left around 12:30 and The Muses were good.  Kristin Hersh is a goddess; short hair, can PLAY the guitar and sing like she's in pain but wants to punch you in the face.  Love her!  I'm still not quite sure on how Vic knows him so ask when I can finally hear, "How do you know him again?"  "We grew up together and I did all of his stores before his family sold them."  "What stores?" I ask.  He looks at me and smiles,"Steph, you just joined the team of a multi millionaire philanthropist."  I look bewildered.  "Steph, his family owned all The Christmas Tree stores."  I immediately start singing, "Don't you just love a bargain?"  Aquaman looks at me and says, "If only YOU really listened to that song."  Guess I shouldn't unveil the new pair of Citizens right now, hmm?

This week is the beginning of my March Madness.  Wednesday night; Ozomatli.  Thursday night; Bloc Party.  Weekend for recovery.  The following weekend; U2 in 3D (and steak) on Saturday night, Morrissey on Sunday night, that Wednesday is Ryan Mountbleu followed by a fundraising event at a bar for a marathon friend followed by a cd release party for a friend that Saturday night.  And that's just my schedule.  Let the music begin.......