The week that is

The week has flown by and mostly consisted of days starting with 7am conference calls and ending around 8pm; long and a little stressful as folk aren't necessarily playing nice with us!  I've been pulling together a bunch of training materials, having items reviewed and working on a daily basis with the boys in India.  I do like them, they are very sweet and responsive.  I have learnt so much in these last four months and think that (so far at least) the move to the new job has been a good one.  I think too, as I learn more about how the company operates, I will be able to make an even bigger contribution and feel there is lots of scope to grow.  Seems it's all been a risk worth taking.
Sunday I went to Zoe and Pam's for the football event.  It was great fun.  The folk their were just hilarious, total football nuts and, I have to confess, that even I was able to follow some of the more exciting plays.  They also all knew all the football gossip including stories about one of the star players sending nude photos of himself to some chick, while wearing crocs....not sure if it was the nude pic or the crocs that horrified people more.  Some did speculate that perhaps members of the All Blacks might behave in a similar way.  I assured them All Blacks wouldn't wear crocs....beyond that I couldn't comment!  Because Wisconsin were playing Zoe put on a "Wisconsin" food festival.  The local food seems to consist of brats (and the attendant condiments), potato salad, cheese, meat, gherkins etc etc followed by some pastry things that, in sum, could all be summed up as a heart attack waiting to happen.  I was assured by the ex.natives of the region that this was, in fact, exactly how the locals ate, every day!  So I can tick this one off as another little cultural moment in the U.S of A.
Tonight I went for a four mile run.  I am tapering for NY now but, given the butt drama combined with work, I've run even less than I should.  Today is the first day though where my butt hasn't hurt, so I guess it's getting better.  The bruising is still rather impressive.  Too bad, running NY, so it better keep up!
Rose arrives tomorrow.....yippee.

A taste of Cat Power

This concert was a riot.  I recorded this on my Blackberry to give you a flavour of the music.  This chick is totally awesome to listen to, the sound that comes out of her mouth doesn't quite fit the "look".  Irene had somehow managed to get us tickets front and center so we had a fantastic view of the whole show.  While "Cat" is awesome she is also totally crazed - her body and facial movements were an endless source of fascination and, at one point, she just walked off stage.......the band just carried on while we waited for her to return.  Five years ago she did this more than once and often didn't return (Irene went to one concert where she just announced she couldn't do this, sorry and walked off stage).  Cat also has some seriously crazed groupies - all relatively young women who clearly idolize her - watching them "perform" was equally entertaining!  Anyway, great night, drove up to Napa (about an hour or so away) in driving rain, met up with Irene's friend ("our" hairdresser, Connie) her mother and husband had a quick dinner and headed to the theater.  Got home around midnight, both buzzed and delighted by the whole thing.

Well that was a week.....

So the whole butt injury has proven to be quite the challenge to manage.  I did go for my run midweek but it was a challenge and I realized I needed to give myself more time to recover. Arrrrrrrgh - resting is lovely but it isn't exactly the right time to be "resting".  Fitness wise I probably have lost a little of my edge but the real challenge is your mind, losing confidence is quite a challenging thing to correct.  The mind plays tricks, telling you your body isn't up for it and, really, you don't have to do that (okay that would be a part of my mind that doesn't really take that type of rationale seriously) - it's a battle of wills at this point.  So today I made it my goal to run to the Ferry Building and back, no compromises, no changing my mind, no whimping out, just get out there and do it.  It's only 8miles (13k), that's a little under a third of a marathon distance.  So run it I did.  Three awesome things to come out of it. 1.  I can still run; my mind and body are willing. 2.  Some of the other little niggly muscle strains I have been nursing appear to have eased, given the break. 3.  My butt is not yet a 100% functioning muscle but it is good to run on (and ice now I am back) and should be fully functioning by the time the marathon comes around.  Keep the mind focused and the body will arrive.

Work was at an all time peak.  Most of my deliverables are coming due and I am still on a big learning curve around managing the training.  As is always the way, as we lead into a release people go a little crazy so I've also had to manage down some expectations and hose down some other people who are, quite frankly, insane.  My old job involved a lot of hosing people down so stepping back up to the edge of that has reminded me that, sooner, rather than later, I will be back in the point role.  Although I have no idea where I might land next (almost 100% sure it will be Cisco....and that is what I am asking/looking for) - current role is due to end at the end of December - so we shall see.  It seems, too, that I've got myself involved in writing a second white paper.  So enough to say that I am busy.

Irene and I off to Cat Power in Napa tonight.  Irene's playing the music around the house so that I can know what to expect.  I like it so all going well should be a fun evening.

Butt update

Because I know you are all fascinated......I have THE most impressive bruise on my arse!  I refused Irene's kind offer to photograph it and post to the blog, you will just have to imagine.  Today I am going to go for a run - it is still tender but nothing like it was.  Clearly nothing terminal has happened - Monday my body ached from the fall and I got to notice all the other bumps, including the bruising that is around the lil gash I have in my arm - I was a wreck, today I feel positively sparkly by comparison.
Last night I got on a conference call to NY that TFK run about preparing for the marathon.  Apart from the fact that some people are ...... hmmm ...... less than stellar at knowing how to mute their bloody phones so we can hear what the presenter is saying.....it was excellent.  They took us through the entire course and talked us through pacing, what to watch out for at various stages and even had this very cool idea for surviving the last four miles (given all of us have now run 22).  They suggest dedicating each mile to a person, someone who would never let you down and that you would do about anything for.   Idea is as you start the mile you are focused on that person.  You won't think about them the whole way but when you doubt (or your body does) you just refocus, then the mile is done and you move onto the next person.  I thought it was a cool idea and as good as any to help the mind get over what the body can do but the mind isn't entirely convinced about.

My butt hurts

This might be a little TMI but I am 19 days out from the marathon so I get to be a little crazed.  Yesterday I fell down the outside stairs at home.....and my butt hurts!!!!  Clumsy I know but it was raining, the stairs were wet, I was on Lotte watch and taking her out (being on Lotte watch is actually quite nice, it's lovely to have a beastie around again and she is quite a character.....strong character.....anyway back to my butt).  My foot slipped out from under and my right buttock slammed into the step and I promptly slid down two more.  Arrrrrrrrrgh - first thought "fuk, the marathon, I better not have chipped anything", second thought "gotta take Lotte outside".  Poor thing, I gave her about as big a fright as myself.  Apart from the shock, which had me feel kind of ill (but I think that had more to do with thinking maybe I'd screwed the marathon) I appeared to be in reasonable order.....well nothing appeared broken.  Fact is my butt isn't the most heavily padded of places so I still wasn't entirely sure how much damage I had done.  Needless to say spent a good part of the day variously icing my arse and waiting for the bruising to show through.  I am still able to walk but can't run (yet) as I've clearly done some soft tissue damage......so there, that's why my butt hurts!
Other things.  I've been involved in some recruiting at work.  This is fun and kind of funny to think I've only been with Accenture for three months and now I get to comment on whether or not someone is a "fit".....funnier still that I have no qualms about saying "no", even if they are a skill fit, much like my old job - people have to fit into the team as well.  All good practice/learning for me and something outside of my day job.  Speaking of, I've learnt more than I ever thought I would about pulling together a training plan....herding cats in the process and generally how bloody complicated it is.  Fortunately Melissa (my current boss) is a guru at this stuff so has been excellent at pointing me in the right direction.  Other fun thing, as a team we've decided to put together a "white paper" on using offshore vs onshore resources for projects.  It will be grand if it all comes together and we get it published (internally)......will see how it goes - just something on the side!
This weekend Irene and I are driving up to Napa for a Cat Power concert.  Needless to say I had never heard of her but Irene is a fan.  Her music kind of suits me, a little mournful and ballad like.....well and she also has some more techno sounding stuff (all of which is a terrible description - so go listen!).
Sunday going around to watch Football (american football) at Zoe and Pams.  They have a bunch of folk coming over - I won't understand what is going on but I'm sure someone will explain!
Then one more week to Rosie.........yippee, then one more week to NY......then four days to Dublin....

Totally awesome

And now they are all free.....but I so loved this guys accent that I just had to post this!

Fleet Week, 22 miles/35 km and adventuring

So these things have been buzzing over the city for the last few days - they are the Blue Angels.  It is Fleet Week.  To save myself alot of grief this is how Wikipedia describes it:
Fleet Week is a United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard tradition in which active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week. Once the ships dock, the crews can enter the city and visit its tourist attractions. At certain hours, the public can take a guided tour of the ships. Often, Fleet Week is accompanied by military demonstrationsand air shows such as provided by the Blue Angels.


We all know I like things military but Fleet Week proved to be an added bonus for me today as I did my longest and last big run before New York (22 miles).  8am this morning I set out to (again) run from Potrero Ave to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge (with an added leg to get me the extra two miles I needed).  As I hit the Embarcadero there was a lot of action going on (although, thankfully, not yet a lot of people involved).  Various military types and vendors were gearing up for the flood of people that arrive at the waterfront to enjoy the show, visit the ships and generally hang out.  As I got closer to the Golden Gate Bridge more and more folk were setting up "camp" and I started to see the Destroyers coming into port.  Place was humming.  All types of military folk decked out in full regalia.  Although I did make one slightly disconcerting observation.....why is that the adults that are in charge of the Cadets look so god awful in their uniforms and are, inevitably, overweight and unhealthy looking?
That aside, I think I can say with some authority now that 22 miles is a long way........so I was very grateful for all the distractions!  I arrived home in better condition than I might have expected, although still stiff and wondering how tomorrow might feel.
Given that little adventure took me four hours I was cutting it close to get to my haircut.....yay to Irene who dropped me off and picked me up (walking Lotte in between).   Given it was Irene's hairdresser the salon wasn't hard to find....for her, I think I might well have got a little lost as it sits in a nest of one way streets!
Tomorrow morning I'm having breakfast with a new friend (or potential new friend I guess) that Michelle and I met at Mango.  I am being brave about getting out and meeting more new folk, which was the whole point of moving to the city.  After that taking the bike down to Santa Cruz to spend a day helping clear Marcia's yard (all part of her 40th birthday present).
Nice busy weekend and running the 22 is a great confidence booster.....which is, I guess, why they have you do it now in the training program.

The things nobody tells you.....

about running a marathon......well actually about preparing to run a marathon.  29 days out, things to know:
1.  Paranoia - alive and well, deeply fearful about getting injured.  Every little tweak, odd new pain or ache sends the mind into a spiral of "what if this is really bad".  Not at all helped this week by Zoe having discovered she can't run the Nike Women's Marathon two weeks from now (and she has been insanely training for it and we ran 20 miles together a few weeks back) because she has a stress fracture in her foot.  Stress fractures are special badges of honour.....they mean you have been training hard.....too hard and they are scary and they are common among "novice" runners training for marathons.  Deep breathes, breathing in and out!  Zoe chose a different training regime from me, she is an icon and she is tough, she is two weeks out, I am four.....
2.  Anticipation - mine, and others.  Okay so I'm my own worst enemy on this one.  Of course I'm anticipating it but I enrolled a whole bunch of folks in this as well....talked/talking about it obsessively etc etc etc.  Well now everyone is anticipating; it's good and it's weird and and and
3.  Fear - blood curdling cold fear.  Although I'm not sure what of.  Frankly I think I'm more scared of not being able to run it than actually running it!  See point 1.
4.  Surprise - ummm yeah, this "thing" might actually be going to happen.  Seriously, I remember the day I thought "I can do that, I'm going to do that".  December 2009 (not that long ago), sat in the cottage having read Ultra Marathon Man and decided "...if he can do that then I can do this.....".  No one close by to say "wtf?", instead everyone said "okaaaaaay, then go for it" or variations on a theme.  One notable "well, that's ambitious..".  September 2009 it took me an hour to run 5 miles / 4 kms.....and it seriously seriously hurt. Tomorrow I run 22 miles / 32 km....and I will feel exactly the degree of hurt I felt when I ran that first 5 miles (maybe more)......understanding that is totally weird.
5.  Elation - I might actually pull this off.  This not unlike how I felt immigrating to the US.
6.  Finally, over it - over thinking about it, focusing on it, being angsty about it, worrying about it, anticipating it, wanting it, dreaming about it, feeling guilty about not training or not training hard enough or drinking or eating the wrong things.......ready. to. run. now.

Rock n Roll

Picture of the team who ran on Sunday.  Lila and Jon (who I stayed with and ran in Nashville with), Julie (who replaced me in my old job and was on the team with Lila and I), me and Lynda (a friend of Lila and Jon's).  Funny too - I mentioned that I had signed on to the Big Sur Marathon in May..........Jon's signed on now too and Lila is planning to run the 5k! Yay, running buddies!

San Jose Half Marathon.....done

Had a grand weekend heading to San Jose on Saturday to stay over for the half marathon on Sunday.  Stayed with Lila and Jon, who I housesat for last year.  All the pets are still in residence!  Saturday the local restaurant (renovated garage I have mentioned before) had an Oktoberfest event so we headed on over for dinner to drink beer (not too much) and meet up with Julie (who I worked with in the old team) and her family.  It was a really pleasant evening, meeting the locals and enjoying some very yummy trout!  Afterwards we went back to Lila and Jons' and watched Michael Jacksons "This Is It" - it was fab, totally had me revise my view of him....incredibly talented man; it's a movie worth watching (I'd avoided it like the plague....my bad).  Up very early Sunday (as in 5:30, although start time not until 8am).  Funny thing about running these races is, unless you have running buddies that run to your time, you don't actually end up running with them.  It was nice to have peeps there to go to the event (we met Julie as we walked over to the start) and have peeps at the end.....really nice, need to find more running buddies me thinks (photo to come).  Came in at 1:58, so under 2hrs makes me happy.....feel maybe I should have gone faster but then I remember that I am going to have to do twice that for the marathon so I think my body/mind just goes "nah we're good".  Afterwards headed off for some lunch and a Lemon Drop.....yum.  Headed back to San Fran around 2ish.

"We" have had a minor household trauma.  As part of the regular and rather impressive exercise regime Lotte has she had an unfortunate encounter with "something" sharp, cutting her paw pad quite badly.  Good mother that Irene is off to the vet it was......and so it was, minor surgery, three stitches and a very bright pink bandage (we really aren't going to mention the bucket contraption she's now supposed to sport for 10 days.......omg and no rigorous exercise).  Herewith a shot of Lotte, looking.....Out.Of.It (thank you to my beloved exes who took me through some major surgeries and resisted the temptation to take any photographs).  For those that follow this blog on a regular basis you will note that she appears to be lying on my bed.  Well she is!  Lotte has got every fond of my bed - apparently Temperapedics are the lastest in dog "wear".  She also seems to like my room.  Neither Irene nor I really understand why but enough to say doped out dog belonged exactly where she was placed and drifted off into a drug hazed comma while Irene and I variously hovered!  Lotte is fine, or will be, but it is rather unsettling when the "children" hurt themselves!