Thursday, June 26, 2008

National Geographic

I know that many of you think it's sinful to wake up at the crack of dawn (5:20 a.m.) to train for this Tri, but I have to tell you - yesterday's run was incredible! The thermometer read 72 and the humidity was 100%. It was sticky and foggy.

My training assignment was for FARTLEKS, a swedish word for speed play. Remember the episode of Friends where Phoebe and Rachel go running in Central Park? That's kind of the idea for fartleks. It's unmeasured time and distance to speed up your pace. I ran all the way down Masonboro Sound Road and back, speeding up between electrical poles.

I might have looked as goofy as Rachel, but at least I didn't run head first into horse! I did have some company on the run. It was like an episode of National Geographic! I wish I could take my camera out on these early morning treks. This is the closest I could find to what the sun looked like coming over the intracoastal waterway and over the tangled oaks:


My first friend on the run was a tiny turtle about this size. I carefully moved him from the road into a ditch that looked more like home to him.
I passed five rabbits! Usually I see one or two together, but on this run, there were five in a clump of grass on the edge of the woods near Cove Point! Several scampered off into the woods, or across the road, but two big ones stood their ground.


Yes, an Emu. There's a farm off Masonboro Sound with several emus. This one was close to the road, inside her fence and I had to stop and talk. She did not speak to me, but she could have been drowned out by the rooster (somewhere on the same farm) who was crowing up a storm that the sun was up.


TTFN,
Bessie











Saturday, June 21, 2008

Father's Day Pix

Ice Cream Cone:
Playing Hide and Found:




Below: N-C-STATE....NCSTATE

I do NOT approve this message!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Swim. Bike. Run.




I'm at it again! You know I love to have a goal to motivate myself and I love variety soooo.....I'm doing my first sprint TRIATHLON! On September 14, 2008, I will enter the SHEROX Tri in Charlotte. It's a half-mile swim, 17 mile bike and 3.1 mile run at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. I'm so excited. The last time I was able to swim this far was as a sophomore at Peace College - and I've never raced in open water.


I have invested in a Trek road bike, swim cap and goggles! Yesterday I logged 12 miles on wheels and tomorrow I will attempt 10 laps at the pool (in preparation for nearly 40!). I have kept up my running and plan to reward myself with these in July:



I can't wait to tackle this - and I'll keep you posted on my training as I go. If you'd like to join me - contact me and meet me there.
TTFN,
Bess

















Do or do not. There is no try - Yoda, the Jedi Master

Cooper Thomas as Ariel



Recent Pix

Here are some random pix from the past few weeks:
Above & Below: Cooper Thomas on Masonboro Sound.
Below: Me & Megan at Meade & Joel van Pelt's reception.