Striding for time

Ronda, Tom and I met at 53rd for Ronda's newest lesson in "How to be a fast Ultra-runner 101." Thankfully I've already had the Heart Rate Monitor prerequisite so I was spared Ronda's version of an informative summary. Namely dousing unsuspecting friend with water from his own water bottle to "moisten" the HR Monitor strap for efficient contact with skin. Uncomfortable perhaps, but effective. :] The rest of the run was crisp, cold and fun! Crossfit has helped with my power output, I think, so the short bursts seemed easy and I felt fast. Of course the carry-over to racing will take a lot more work. But it was encouraging to feel strong.

I'm determined to remember my heart rate monitor next time as the heart rate twins were beginning to scare me just a little. I was about to ask the herd of lady walkers if their heart rates were also at 147.3. It was fun to listen to Tom and Ronda's calls back and forth checking their rates. It was odd to hear the numbers match up almost perfectly every 10-15 minutes. Just another reason these two train so well together I suspect.

Emma was also throwing the hammer down. She was challenging Zoe to the usual run-ups on the steep embankments. No squirrels were sighted during the run, but don't mention that to Emma...as she is certain she treed 14 of them. After reading Ronda's blog, it seems I've been tagged (or am about to be) to mention 5 things about myself. So I will include them below. :]

1. I studied acting in college. I majored in psychology and also completed the Acting Specialist program in the theatre dept. Oddly enough I think I learned more about people in the acting program than in psychology.

2. As a child I was bossy and always the one setting the rules of the game. I was also the only kid on the block that would stop playing and go home early wondering when lunch, or dinner was going to be ready. I still wonder that everyday. :]

3. I still congratulate my 5 year old dog on going, "Outside Potty." I do this despite the pained and embarrassed looks I see on the faces of my close friends.

4. I love to bake bread, my cousin and grandma taught me, and I'm not bad at it.

5. I can hold my own: pulling hose, throwing ladders, and cutting holes on the roof.. (Even though now most of the time I hold a clipboard, talk on the radio and point.)