Vacationing with Your Runner-One Word "Don't"

Most vacations taken by runners evolve around those prestige races ie. New York Marathon, Boston ,Chicago, Rome, Hawaii ,Greece Marathon.
There will not be candle lite dinners for two in romantic out of the way Bistro's.
Instead it you and a few thousand unknowns are at another Pasta dinner and the only treat you might get is a small taste cup of Ben and Jeri's.

No late night walks about the town,Nada,no espresso bars to sit and gaze at each other nienti,no wine,just him complaining he's got to get to bed.
No dancing it does not count if you the leap and stomp flaying arms about as you throw a hissy fit at having to return to the hotel at 9 pm.

People its early to bed , earlier breakfast on your own as the have thier morning run, then they return you get to wait around til their ready for a quick tour aroungd, back for dinner , rest on the terrace or by the pool as they take a nap, then they are off to bed and you and your book can be alone.

I can only say this always bring a third or pick one up along the way, someone from the area and who doesn't speak English if possiable!
So that at least you have a chance of enjoying parts of the vacation.

This is the truth, I swear on 22 pairs of elite worn down runners currently residing in my basement giving off toxic gases!

Goodness Gracious whole lota of Money!

Runners to their credit raise ginormeous amounts of money for various charities, this is an honorable thing to do!!This in turn raises awareness of charity and its all good.
I gotta say this though runners will run any where any time for any cause. Way to go.

Runners carry a sense of camaraderie they applaud and secretly envy each others triumphs they also praise and gloat on the failures , after all they do run as a pack[think of wolves].


THE TRUTH BEHIND THE PACE BUNNY:
[note Mulder and Scully were in no way involved]
He is a runners who is called or volunteers to set a certain pace time for other newbie runners who wish to qualify for more prestiges races such as Boston, New York or Kalamazoo.
To those of you who wish to keep up with the pace bunny you do so at your own risk, he will not I repeat slow his time soit will be intense.

To spot the bunny you only need to find 2 hot pink styrofoam ears attached to a hat with race times marked inside them.
Those who cannot keep up with the bunnies , are found strewn along the course in prostrate postions or if they are wise will deviate to the closet bar and watch the race with a cold one in hand...Cheers!

Do wa diddly squat didly He Do!

Volunteer...noble people who give freely of there time to help the disable and the needy.

Runner Volunteers...sadly these are running wannabe's or injured runners.They attend race events dressed in florescent jackets to set up the races, putting up Markers handing out drinks giving out race kits and Bib's[the big babies] cheer leading the runners at the finish line, Yeah!
Here's an idea ... why doesn't Mr. volunteer try to finish those numerous projects that were started around the house, albeit with good faith but NEVER COMPLETED!!
To engage runners in daily household chores is a race that will never end.
So it then falls to the Partner of the runner who becomes somewhat of a marathoner themselves, they run to the parent teacher meetings, run to the grocery store , run to the library, the doctor, the dentist appointments with the kids, dash to the dry cleaners; scoot to have dinner on the table on time.

They become adept at keeping the house together literally with duct tape and liquid nail glue[ thank you Aylmer]don't receive medals nor praise, there are no trendy signet moisture wicking clothes to wear, there are no magizines to acknowlegde and report their achievements....THey just DO IT! thanks Nike!

To my mom friends in the Know

Here's to you Peg and Marion and Maryann and also Marie.
To Anne who has passed and to my dear sister law Barbra who too passed on, you both now watch and care from a higher plain.
To my mom and my aunts and cousins across the sea in Italy, what you all did and do you do in the name of Love.
Okay now were done!
Happy Monday, I'm cleaning bathrooms today and laundry.
Back to regular blogging tomorrow.

To ALL ThE MOTHERS WHO ARE OUT AND ABOUT

Happy Mothers Day, whether you live in an Igloo or a Villa in the Tuscan country side with an Artist or on an Island in the Mediterranean sea the air fragrant with the scent of lemons and wild oregano and sea breezes.To the mom making fairy cake like soaps in a hill side town along the Amalfie coast.To the mom in Canada , near the windmill with girl with curly hair in tow.
Look about your domain and the family you've created and be blessed in this moment and time.
Have a great Mothers Day!

To ALL ThE MOTHERS WHO ARE OUT AND ABOUT

A call to Arms legs ,Calves and least we forget Thighs

How appropriate that today I should write about Runners who can sometimes become somewhat paranoid should they sustain an injury.
Yesterday I , me , myself had to be fitted for a robot like knee brace to keep my Patella in line and get it back into its groove.Patella[kneecap] apparently if had not been sitting in its proper groove because of some funky hip problem I had which now has been addressed but this other thing was then discovered by my excellent in home physio therapist Destra.Who then informed my surgeon , who then gave me a priscription for a brace.
Needless to say its not at all fashinable, to afashionesta like myself.
Any way back to the real athalets,when it comes to injuries whether a cramp, fall or muscle spasm this could mean adding time to thier run or the worst taking them away from running![this is were the oragan music would come in]This is not acceptable, why would their highly trained bodies fail them?

If the injury is severe enough a runner becomes anxiety ridden, they go to sports kinesoligist for the lastest massage ,phsio and electrical muscle stimulation[yes master its alive ]
Runners who cannot run I would equate to a pinball in a pinball machine, too much energy and no where to place it , mind you a little yard work or repaving the walkway or painting the family room or laying those new floors just does not provide the same runners buzz.


They then begin the ritual of collecting varios creams , jells ointments[pue]heat patches ,cold compresses braces, therapist to administer strength excercies[not to mention emailing and clling each any every runner they know..trust me I've seen this live.
These pursuits donot stop till this falllen soldier is back hitting the pavement again.

I cannot sympathize when this happens at my house, after who is that women with 103 fever dragging herself around making kids lunches and dinner and doing the laundry for a week wearing the same nightgown the whole time as she hasn't the strngth to pull it over her head to get it off.

So I say to you with calf muscle suck it up baby!!!