I have no superstitions about bib numbers. However, I have hoped for a 31 in my bib numbers since my first race. It’s never happened, closed I’ve been was 33 (339 for a 10K in November and 5339 at the LA Marathon). When I went to the expo yesterday and stopped by the table to find out my number, I was surprised to see what I’d been assigned.
My 31-loving heart was quite happy. It’s almost as cool as placing 31st at a 5K last month. (It was a very small field, about 80 people.)
I’m running the Pasadena half marathon on Sunday. It’ll be my second time tackling the half marathon distance in a race. I’m not nervous like I was in October. I know I can run 13.1 miles, but can I beat my time from October and set a personal record? Maybe. The courses are much different. Long Beach is a fast and flat course along the ocean. We were blessed that day with perfect running weather and I easily finished under my goal time of 2:06. In fact, I was a little surprised that 2:03 came so easy.
Of course, Pasadena will be different. The course has some hills (all of miles 8 through 10 are uphill) and the weather is unpredictable. Sometimes May mornings can be cool hovering in the mid 60s with the marine layer providing some relief from the sun. Or they can be like last week, sunny with temperatures reaching the high 80s. And that’s in West LA. Pasadena sits at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and is always warmer. It looks like Pasadena will be on the cooler side (high 60s), and maybe a little cloudy.
The course isn’t the only thing that’s different. I gained a lot in training for the LA Marathon. The distance seems like an easy run and I know I can go longer. I know how I need to fuel and hydrate to prevent from fading in the later miles. I’ve done weekly speed work on the track and tempo runs. I run lots of hills. I’ve run my goal pace on a hilly course… at least for a 10K.
I should be able to meet my goals. I can do this.
A: finish under 2 hours
B: finish under 2:03 and set a personal record
C: finish under 2:05
My good friend Chispa will also be running. She was injured after her first half marathon in October and took some time off. I hope she has a strong race!
My sister posted the highlights of her day on FB. I’m copying her and listing some good things about my Tuesday.
I ran to the top of the popular Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook with the SportEve running group. The climb from the street to the top was over 400 feet in less than half a mile. My calves were screaming and I had to take walk breaks, but it was worth it for the sunset views at the top. The run through switchback trails on the way down was nice too, except for the swarms of flies — hope I didn’t swallow one — and particularly steep part of the trail I was sure I’d tumble down. Thankfully, I stayed upright the whole time and didn’t have anything to add to the list of embarrassing moments.
Staying up super late searching for wedding venues online. There was the scary (starting dinners of $100/person at a hotel near my family’s home) and the funny. Make sure your speakers are on. Best thing was finding several sites that meet our needs and are within our budget (not that it really exists yet, we just know what we can’t afford).
I had my annual 6-month cleaning and check-up at my dentist. Well, I didn’t see my dentist, just the dental hygienist who did his job and sent me on way with a “everything looks cool.” I can’t say for sure I’m cavity free (was in November), but at least my smile is a little brighter today.
Work was quick and efficient. We’re preparing for one of my favorite [work] days of the year, Science Poster Day, is coming up. It’s an opportunity for me to take the photos that will later make it into our program’s handbook and talk to my students about their research. I don’t understand most of it, but it’s still cool to see them growing as scientists.
I made my first cup of coffee with a coffee maker. Yes, I know I’m years behind. In my defense, my parents are not coffee drinkers and neither were my several roommates over the years. The newest roommate, J, brought a coffee maker when he moved in last summer. I used some free Don Francisco coffee I got at a race expo.
How was your Tuesday?
In 2005, I resolved to write a daily haiku. The project lasted through May or June and then I just stopped. It’s like the photo-a-day project. Eventually I ran out of interesting things to write about. Since then, I’ve written a few haiku whenever I feel inspired.
One of those times was last Friday after reading Marie’s haiku about the royal wedding. In the comments, I shared my own response in 17 syllables. I’ve been doing daily haiku since then. Let’s see how long this lasts.
04.29.11
Dear, I must confess
Slept through the ceremony
Ogled the lace dress
04.30.11
Hit snooze many times
Started long run at high noon
Punished by the sun
05.01.11
Suppose bin Laden
Was taken out by a kid
In a liquor store[1]
05.02.11
10K tempo run
At half marathon goal pace
Totally kicked ass
05.03.11
Andre extends streak
Singles in 29th game
But Dodgers still lose
05.04.11
Doctor appointment
To fix a nagging problem
But first, need some tests!
05.05.11
Four tacos for me
Five of carnitas for Sean
Full bellies for both
05.06.11
Know what I did wrong
Never connected with peers
Now they are all gone
05.07.11
Thor in the morning
Comics in the afternoon
It’s a geeky day
05.08.11
Dresses were a hit
They fit my mom perfectly
She looks beautiful
Dear Andre,
Congratulations on the hit streak. With the Dodgers’ long and storied history of some excellent ballplayers, I’d feel proud to be second on the all-time franchise hit streak list. Thirty games is might impressive. Even more, it’s cool that with a game loss and end to your streak you still managed to crack jokes about the media attention.
I really enjoyed watching you get closer to breaking the record. I’m sad the hit streak is over.
You don’t know how much I wanted to see you get to 31. It would’ve made my 31-loving heart so incredibly happy. I didn’t even care all that much to see you beat Willie Davis’ 42-year record. I’d actually have been cool if the streak ended at 31 and you just tied him.
Okay, maybe not, but only because your hitting streak has been of the few bright spots in a season with lots of troubles on the field, in the front office, and even in the parking lot.
Yesterday’s game was tough to watch. It wasn’t just that you kept flying and popping out, and struck out in the 8th. No, it was even more difficult because we could have really used a hit in the 8th when Matt Kemp was in scoring position and the score was tied. Worse, the rest of the team seemed to have the same problem. Sigh. I’ll stop complaining.
I’m still a fan. That won’t change. And neither will your place as my current favorite on the team and one of my all time Dodger favorites. You’re certainly higher on the list than Davis. I’m happy I got to see the streak in person (#29 up there) and have been able to watch you grow with the Dodgers over the last five years. You’re proof that good things do come out of Arizona.
Hope to see more great demonstrations of your batting (and fielding) skills this season and hope you inspire the rest of the players to start using those bats as intended.
With mad respect,
Cindylu
P.S. Glad to see that batting power back today with your home run in the Dodgers’ first victory in 4 games. Maybe you do better without the added pressure and media attention.
Lotería Chicana 