Random Thoughts
1. I have ALWAYS driven a standard or a car with a manual transmission. My new car is automatic so more than once I have tried to use the clutch and shift down (seem to have no problem accelerating) to no avail. I'll get used to it and it is often quite nice. But it still feels bizarre to just turn on a car and have nothing else to do but turn the key.
2. While at the parade the other day my husband was
3. Wednesday morning I went to the gym to do a speed workout for my half marathon. This is the first week of training. I may have had the best treadmill workout I have ever had. I did much more than the workout called for and felt great. If only all workouts went like this.
4. I used to always put on my list of goals for the year to race in a new state in New England. I stopped putting it so of course this is the year I am going to do it. This weekend I am going to Rhode Island to race. I picked this race because I have never raced in Rhode Island (last New England state I need) and it looks to be a very scenic run on the ocean. It is called Up Around The Bend and is a 7 Miler.
5. This morning I was up early riding my bike because I was on an interview committee at work. I am 100% sure that there is no place that can be as good as BIKING IN VERMONT especially early on a beautiful summer morning. Biking in Vermont is the BOMB!
6. But with less than one hour of biking Garmin failed again. I looked at Garmins the other day at my local running/bike shop. I had decided I would go with the 210 after talking to the store guy, Joe, who everyone assured me was the guy with the info. I came home and read yet more reviews and decided that yes this one would work. I don't need a lot of bells and whistles and this one sounds like it has exactly what I want. It was 200, then I got 15% off for my running club membership, and then you can send the old one in for a 50 dollar rebate. I did know that now that I have had one, I really need my Garmin. I am completely anal about wanting to know the distance I have gone. I know the distance of many of my running routes but I don't know my bike routes. I will be trying out the new Garmin on Saturday. It was super easy to set up. Plus I can charge it through a USB cable which I can do in my car if necessary!
7. I spent the better part of an hour two different days sitting on Church Street in Burlington at an outside table with a good cup of coffee, a book and many people to watch. Today my son joined me for a late lunch. One day I was waiting for my bike to be fixed. Today - a good excuse to spend some time with my son!
8. Last night in the middle of the night the phone rang. That is never something you want to hear. Of course I thought of my adult children. But when I answered it was a voice I had never heard telling me they were calling for ................., someone I had never heard of. It was a business type call in the middle of the night. As annoying as it possibly could have been. I did not easily get back to sleep.
Tomorrow is Friday! Enjoy your weekend! If you are racing in any form good luck and have fun!
26 comments:
1. I'm doing a half (#4) in Rhode Island in September.
2.Sometimes when I drive the truck I forget to put it in park, I've driven a standard for so long
3. I think I'm a winner even tho I'm not near the front
4. Are you doing the Koman race?
Looks like life is good in VT these days. You seem happy and grateful. Good for you. I'm sure you deserve it.
Only an ignorant non-athlete could ask such a stupid question. At the race on the weekend I kept thinking - So many goals are going to be met today. They may not be time goals or place goals but seeing a very overweight young man finishing his first 10k with his personal trainer was a highlight for me. You do not have to be first across the line to be a winner.
You know, 10+ years ago I asked a friend who ran marathons WHY he did it if he knew he wasn't going to win. I didn't get it then; I totally do now. I think when people come from a team sports background or their only experience with individual events is things like the Olympics, they just don't understand the joy in ACCOMPLISHING.
Yea for relaxing times with books. On Tuesday after volleyball was over, after lunch I spent over an hour sitting on a bench outside reading. It was lovely. :)
The whole reason I started a blog was because of people like #2 (ha, ha - number 2). Some people will never get it. I loved Char's comment above - what a treat it is to watch the back of the packers finish, every bit as excited and accomplished as the winners!
That's annoying about the fellow party guest! but your book/coffee/people watching sounds heavenly!
It looks like you are enjoying your vacation! Sorry about that stinker who has NO CLUE about what it takes to be a winner but you get it and that's all that matters!
Keep inspiring us!!
I've always had automatic cars. I don't know how to drive a stick shift, but I'd imagine it would be a very useful skill to have.
Telemarketers are getting greedier these days. So sad!
Good luck at your race in RI this weekend!
Those kinds of comments always come from jealousy and insecurity on the part of the commenter - I have found that those people can only feel better about themselves when knocking others. Too bad for him...
Sounds like other than for that fool you have been having a great summer!
That guy sounds like a total ignorant idiot. very childish way of looking at things. Apart from that, it sounds like a great week - good luck with the new Garmin!
That guy was indeed a jerk. I don't know if I could have hold my tongue LOL.
Hooray for a new Garmin, hope this one will give you many hours of pleasure during bike rides and runs.
Regarding #2 ... what an a-hole! That's one of the DUMBEST things I've ever heard anyone say. You handled it well ... I can't usually hold my tongue like that.
#2 irks me to no end. Good for you for not strangling him. Jerk.
Did not realize how close VT was driving up to Maine from Boston. If it wasn't a traffic jam-packed holiday weekend, we'd have swung over. Next time!
I had a scary experience with automatic transmission after years of driving with manual. I was (mercifully) on a deserted back road somewhere in Maine, I wanted to shift gears and my foot slammed on the break thinking it was a clutch. My brain must have been disconnected. Good there was nobody behind me.
I always wondered how come some workouts are just great and some suck. With me it does not have anything to do with my mood or physical fitness. Go figure.
Damn telemarketers!
I have people ask me all the time if I am going to win a particular race. They say it with all seriousness. I just laugh it off knowing I am not even going to win my age group much less the race. I think sometimes since I am the only person they know that does these things they picture the race as being something very small with only a handful of participants. Weird.
I don't sleep well on a good night, if I got a call like that I'd have been up for the duration.
Always wanted to go to Rhode Island (and Vermont, New Hampshire....), good luck with the race, I know you're going to do well!
And yay for a new Garmin - at such a great deal!! :)
Happy Weekend!!!! :)
#1 - i drove a manual until about 18 yrs ago. had the same problem when i switched.
#2 - guy is a jerk.
#8 - best wishes with the new garmin
#9 - I hear you on that one! has happened to me a few times (wrong number middle of the night) and my heart gets to racing so high when that phone rings that I can barely get back to sleep even though it was a false alarm!
Sounds like you are enjoying summer vacation!
Good luck and have fun at the race this weekend.
You'll never go back to a standard....
#2 is a moron. Years ago we were at Worlds Mtn Bike Champs - at the awards some idiot yells out at Silver Medalist - "How does it feel to be first loser?" They are everywhere. But he isn't worth going to jail, so probably refrain from beating the crap out of him ;-)
What a jerk, but what a great, eloquent answer you gave!
And yes, biking in Vermont is the bomb :)
Re: #2.
I hear you. This is what I say when people ask me such:
"I came in xxx out of YYY overall and zzz out of www in my age group. And I would love doing it even if I was dead last."
Oh, and I forgot to say, someday when I am dead last this is what you say:
"I came in dead last, but ahead of all the people that stayed in bed. "
#3-Awesome! I sure LOVE those days! In fact, I could really use one of those days!!
My dream city to live in is Burlington, Vermont. I would just LOVE it there. My husband had a job opportunity once and we didn't go. Maybe after these kiddos graduate!!
Have a great weekend!!
I still occasionally try to step on the clutch or shift and I haven't driven a standard in a decade.
That guys in # 2 sounds like a real jerk.
I loved #7...I need to follow your lead and take a book with me and just go sit somewhere :-)
I can't imagine switching to a car with automatic transmission. I learned on a 5-speed and then my first car was an automatic but since then I insisted on getting manuals. It wasn't as much fun while I was stuck in traffic yesterday evening but I prefer it overall. They are becoming more difficult to find though.
That guy in #2 is so frustrating. He seems to think if you can't be the best then there is no point to trying. But what he is missing is that you can be your best self without needing to compete with others.
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