Weekend Update!

It was a pretty busy but fun weekend. Saturday we got up early and went to a bike ride in Carthage that benefited Special Forces. Our SF friend, Col Lt Fred Dummer and his wife Susan (better known as Mr and Mrs. Doom) were there as well as my new friend Susan that I met at the reservoir. After the ride and a couple of hours of hanging out with everyone, we came home and watched the Olympics which was a little frustrating as our DVR Cable Box keeps rebooting. We got through most of the major events without missing too much. This morniing (Sunday) we got up early again to meet the Striders at 7:00 for a run. Frank ended up running with the group and it sounds like he had a good time. He's turning into a real chatty Cathy! I ran with my new friend Susan (the one mentioned above) and it was great. She's really easy to run with and didn't seem to mind my continual run/walk routine. We did okay all things considered and ran about 9 1/2 miles in 2 hours. It's the farthest I've run in awhile so I was pleased. No pain except that after I was done, my glutes felt a little tight but that is to be expected. It started to rain while we were out there so when we got home it was nice to drink a coffee, eat breakfast and watch more Olympics! Later we went over to the gym. Frank wanted to lift weights and I decided to swim. Michael Phelps is so inspiring. After that we came home and yes watched more Olympics!
We did sign up for the New River 50K that is scheduled for Oct 11 so that's a good goal race to work towards. We're still up in the air about Triple Lakes the week before New River. They have a 1/2 marathon this year as well as the marathon and 40 miler so if we do it I may sign up for just the 1/2 marathon as it'll only be one week after Hinson Lake and I hope to do at least 50 there and one week before New River! I sure hope my body holds up and continues to cooperate with all my goals!
I am also thinking very seriously about running the Myrtle Beach Marathon in February. Several of the Mangum Track Club as well as Striders do that race every year and love it. We haven't done a road marathon for several years but it might be fun so I think I'll set my sights on that one. I'd love to qualify for Boston but I don't really see that happening but never say never. I need a 4:15 although my stretch goal at this point will be to come in under 4:30 but in all probability it'll be more like a 5 hour marathon???? There's a bike ride the following day which I think would be really cool (literally), and I am hoping to do that as well. Think I'm geting ahead of myself? I love planning and scheduling. It's the actually doing these things that I often fall short of but a girl can dream! I'm thinking about doing the 30 mile bike ride??? Anyway, that's the thought of the day. That's what happens when you sit around for a couple of hours after a bike ride with running friends and talk about all the races and events that you'd like to do. Anyway, the door is open for thought!
My "massage interview" has been postponed for a few days as the owner has some medical issues. Hopefully it'll happen next week if it doesn't work out for this week as we're leaving for Colleen's on Wednesday. I'm really excited to start work on the new salon as I think it will be a great opportunity. I had another call from a Strider for a massage so if this keeps up I'll be able to bring some clients to the new place. (unless they prefer coming to the house) It's nice to have them come to the house but I do have to put all my weights and workout stuff away which is a pain but not a big deal. When they come here I don't have to pay the salon a percentage so financially it's a better deal as well.
I volunteered to be the President Elect of the Striders running group. Yes, I did it again!!!! I said I'd never do that again and here I go, both feet in pretty deep. I'm actually very excited about assuming this role as I'd love to see the club expand to a club for all levels. It's mostly consisted of young fast runners with a few others who try to hang on and everyone else that wanted to join them, just got discouraged and didn't come back. I'm on a mission to really attract all levels, especially new runners. I've already approached a couple of women that were walking at the reservoir to ask if they'd like to join a beginner running group and they were very excited. It seems that by stretching out a little bit, I'm finally meeting more people that are more like me. I was concerned at times as it seemed that most of the people we met we either too old or too young for us to have much in common with. I'm really getting to know quite a few people around here and it's going to be great. I think we'll be able to really feel like a part of a community now. It seems that we see someone that we know or at least have met, whenever we go anywhere. I guess that's part of the allure of living in such a small community. I'm starting to really love it here. I was beginning to think that I wouldn't really enjoy living here until I was about 65 or so (the median age) but now I'm finding there are active middle age adults as well and I can ever keep up with some of the younger ones as well. Life is good! Now it's time to go watch more Olympics! See ya!