A birthday, 1/2 marathon spectating and stupid things heard in spin class




Saturday was my 42nd birthday.  42.  Wow!  My parents took the kids and we celebrated with some good friends at dinner on Saturday night.  It was a fun, and super nice not to have to wake up early the next morning and take care of kiddos.

On Sunday, I headed out with my running buddy Michelle to spectate/play cheerleader for her and our friend Kristin at the Vancouver Lake Half marathon.  As you may or may not recall, I was supposed to be running this half marathon, but decided to be wise and gave away my entry because of my foot.  This is a small race, but from what I could see very well supported.  It's got a lot of out and back action on the course, which from a runners standpoint might not be great, but from a spectating standpoint it gave us lots of opportunities to see friends without moving around too much.

Happy runners!

The weather was terrible.  When we left the house it was just overcast - but as the race started it began raining and was super windy.  It was soooo cold.  It's one thing to run in rain, but the wind just cut through you and chilled you to the bone.  I met up with my friends Mike and Ed, who I trained with for the Vancouver USA Marathon last spring.  They are on the gimp list like me, so we haven't run together in a long time.  It was great to hang out with them and reminisce about our glory running days.  We've decided we need to plan a "comeback" race together since we are recovering from our various injuries.   Michelle and Kristin finished the race, and we hustled on out of there because they were so cold after the run!  I came home to some sweet homemade presents from my kiddos and ice cream cake for desert.  All in all a great birthday weekend.

This morning I met with my friend Robin and we went to another spin class.  This workout was much better than the first one as far as the instruction went.  She was much more clear about where we should be on our RPM's, and I really felt like I pushed myself and got a great workout.  BUT, the instructor did pull a total idiot move at the end of the class.  She was talking about the importance of doing interval work, and how it will make you stronger - which, incidentally,  I completely agree with and is why I do speed work/tempo training, etc.  Here's where the stupid part comes in - to prove her point she made the following comment:  "You know how 40 year old marathoners always look old and tired and haggard?  Compare them to a track and field athlete whose training is interval based, and I can guarantee that they look 10 years younger". 

Huh?

I was unaware that the goal of running marathons or doing track and field was to appear more youthful.  I thought it had something to do with fitness, personal achievements...now I know better.  And also,  know your audience!  I was looking around the room which was filled with mostly women who looked about my age, and I'd be willing to bet I was not the only marathoner in the group.  My friend Robin was dying of laughter at the look on my face.  I just couldn't believe she was putting down marathoners in order to make her point.  I know she was just trying to explain the importance of intervals, but it definitely wasn't the best way to go about it!   At least this old and haggard 40+ year old marathoner got a good workout in.  We did do intervals - so I think I probably look 38 now...