Random Facts about T-Pie

So - I'm totally committing blogging-plagiarism and copying Ryan's idea for my "About Me" page...I'm not going to give you my life story - instead, I'm listing some interesting random facts about me that many people don't know. (At least I think they're interesting anyway...you be the judge..)

• I'm absolutely terrified of Linda Blair
  
• I'm one of 29 grandchildren in the Porter Family
• I'm left handed but can only snap with my right hand
• I met my husband on a blind date arranged by my father
• My favorite movie is The Big Blue but I haven't seen it in over 10 years
• I have never broken a bone
• I had to tell my grandfather over the phone that his only child had died
• The only memory I have of my childhood home in Pittsburgh is the red & white checkered floor in the basement
• I have never eaten at Chik-fil-a
• I want to be a prison warden when I grow up
• I picked my college because they had the best marching band in the state
• I can't parallel park
• I completed the Disney Marathon in 2010 and hated almost every minute of it
• I named my dog after my paternal grandmother
• I saw a UFO during the summer of 1991
• I commute 1/2 way to work in the morning with my husband - then go back home and get ready to drive to my office
• I am addicted to chapstick
• I just might have middle child syndrome

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Things I Learned in London

1. Where the game "red light, yellow light, green light STOP" came from
2. I was only a short ferry ride away from Jessie Soliz (Porter) and didn't know it until I got home:(
3. It's all about relationships and loyalty
4. Bike lanes are only about 3 inches wide - and are totally optional
5. There may be 3 phones in your 20 sq ft hotel room, but there certainly won't be an alarm clock

6. A bacon & egg sandwich on white bread just might be the best invention ever
7. You have to have your room key to turn on/keep on your lights
8. Showers are the size of my high school locker
9. It's perfectly reasonable to spend a day and a half travelling for a 1 hour meeting with an underwriter
10. Black Cabs are the only way to go - especially if you're alone
11. Running 15 miles after you get home is going to suck
12. Hotel-provided hair dryers can't be used in the bathroom (and the adaptor you purchased for the one you brought with you won't work...and will cause a small fire)
13. It's not cloudy & rainy all the time - just a lot of the time
14. There's nothing wrong with a glass of wine or three at lunch
15. The office buildings are all like Fort Knox - you have to have a pass key to get in the building, to make the elevator move AND to get out of the building
16. The London Eye never stops moving
17. A 1-hour meetings typically consists of 15 minutes of small talk followed by 20 minutes of business and 25 minutes explaining why your favorite football team is your favorite
18. Breakfast typically includes baked beans
19. The London Bridge is actually a small non-descript bridge (and this is not it)

20. The average height of Swiss and German females just may be 6'2" (and 6'6" for males)
21. The lady in the room always orders first
22. Basement temperature beer is actually pretty good, as long as you drink it quickly
23. No matter how much fun you're having, it's hard to be away from your husband for a week

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The Dog Days of Training

Hard to believe but we're already 1/2 way through our marathon training program! We have of course cheated a little bit with week day workouts, but overall we're on track! Haven't missed a long run yet, and am seeing a bit of progress as far as speed goes in my short runs. One thing that seems to be really helping me is "half commuting" with Ryan in the mornings. He rides his Bianchi to work as many days as he can each week, 12 miles one way. So in the mornings I get up and ride Red Beard (my Felt road bike) 1/2 way to work with him then turn around and ride back home so I can get ready for work. I would ride to my office but it's about 20 miles one way (staying in bike lanes) and I don't have access to a shower. I'm a bit high maintenance, AND it's hot here, so there's no chance I can skip that part! Anyway, the "half commute" is fun and it's nice to spend some time with Ryan in the mornings. Plus it allows me to get in an extra workout without having to tear up my legs by running too many days in a row.

The hardest part of this marathon training program so far was our 13 miler last week. We got a late start and that resulted in running at noon in heat that "felt like" 1pm and boy it was HOT! We all got sunburns and ran out of water by the end (and that's even AFTER a refill half way thru at Robinson Preserve). Was definitely the hardest run I've had in a long time. Honestly though, I sort of went into it with a poor attitude - I had been dreading it since the day before and would have much rather been on the couch watching TV than running in the hot FL sun. So I wasn't off to a good start right from the getgo. Once we were on the road, things felt OK until about 3 miles into the run. I was burning thru gels like it was nobody's business and kept getting shaky when they started to wear off. So I had to really watch my water intake and gel consumption. I think we're getting to the point now that we need to take more than gels with us on our long runs - maybe Clif bars or pretzels - definitely something with a bit of substance.

Luckily, after that horrible 13 miles was over we still felt a sense of accomplishment. Glad it was over, but proud that we didn't give up.

This week is a "step back" week with a 10 miler scheduled. That's lucky for me as I'm traveling to London for work and will not be able to fit in a long run. (I know, everyone says I should do it while I'm there, but my time is pretty much booked with meetings and honestly, I just don't feel very safe running around a strange city....let alone a COLD city!) Never fear though - I did bring running shoes and some running clothes in hopes of getting in a quick jog on a treadmill while I'm across the pond. Then it's right back on track with a 15 miler next Sunday!

Mentally, I'm still in a good place as far as confidence about finishing the race. I'm sure that if I continue to stay on track for the next 9 weeks (only 9 weeks left?!?) I will cross the finish line - maybe not in style, and maybe looking like death warmed over, but I WILL finish.

So here's to no injuries, lots of motivation and cool weather for the next 9 weeks!

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