I shivered around our group huddle Saturday morning outside Zizzo’s coffee.  I knew I would warm up soon, but goosebumps popped like kernels in a kettle.  I tucked my hands inside my sleeves and awaited instructions.  They came with a smile and a warning to save room on the tempo because there would be uphill 800 meter repeats for dessert.

“Oh, you mean the Devil’s 800?”

Yes.  Close to the ocean on the tail end of west campus lies a marked daunting half mile stretch.  A runner may either go down or up.  If you go down, it must be Halo’s 800 although you will still cry for the finish if you run it hard enough, but if you go up it is the Devil’s.  There used to be a painted red devil sticking his tongue out on the pavement, but some saint must have vanquished him.  Rumor has it that a famed UCSB track star has ascended this uphill stretch in a blazing 2:13!  Wowza!  OK, he has a 1:46 PR to his name, but still….it’s a long hill.

“It’s a long hill,” Rusty confirmed.

My tempo went very smooth.  Ahhhhhh, thank you for turning the suck dial down a few notches as I am all stocked up on suck.  I could breathe, I could smile, I could say hello….

“You don’t have to say HI to me just to prove that you’re not working hard,” Rusty smirked.

What?  A girl can’t run by and say HI to her coach?  Feeling very relaxed, I finished up my 3 plus mile set averaging 6:04.  Well thanks Running.  You know, I needed you to say something nice to me today.  That was still far from where I want to get back to, but at least it isn’t a kick in the ass….er…shins.

We headed toward the hill to turn out four half mile repeats.

“Run these around 3 flat Drea, ” Rusty paused again, “It’s a big hill.”

I pushed into the first set trailing Tim and Mike.  They spit out a 2:39 and fell over their knees sucking sweet air back into the void.  I hit 2:59.

“OK good.  See if you can keep it there,” Rusty said with an inviting smile.  The kind of smile that really said- see if-you-can-go-faster.

I pushed into the second set slightly ahead of Tim and Mike.  I went up higher on my toes and brought my arms in.  When they went by me, I tried to stick.  They spit out a 2:47 and I punched 2:54.

“Good.  Nice.  Now see if you can beat that,” Rusty said.

I pushed into the third set.  I made it half way through the final 200 meters before Tim and Mike roared around me.  I hit 2:48.

“Alright, nice,” Rusty smiled, “We’ll see if you can beat that.”

Now that sounded like a challenge.  I jogged down to the start very slow and reminded the boys to slow down to sip the sweet recovery time.  (Tuesday’s lesson).  I pushed hard into the final set.  It hurt.  A lot.  Again the boys went around me in the final 200 meters and they finished in 2:36.  I fell over onto my knees with a 2:41.  Immediately if not sooner the good-workout-glow illuminated my face….like a good orgasm…I mean oregano.  Really good oregano.

Fair enough, one good workout means about as much as one bad one, but I really needed this little compliment from Running.  Thanks Running for being a sweetheart to me Saturday morning.  I appreciate your good behavior.

OTHER NEWS

Apparently most of us way under carb our recovery drink.  Did you know my-size-human-being needs 150gm of carbs following a big hard workout?  Let’s see, I was typically ingesting around 30gm post workout.  By Golly!  I am under carbed!  I upped my carbs to 75gm Saturday (150 is a lot!!!).  I was full and content so the Latte became black coffee and the bagel went bye-bye, but the body felt much better.  I was not shaking by the time I ate lunch and had a very healthy one with, yes, beet juice is back.

I am trying to reduce my sugar intake, but I love sugar. SUGAR!!!!

Soooooo, I am now making my own healthy popsicles and they ROCK!  Not like cupcakes rock, but you know, they PEBBLE!

I would love to call them PopTart, but I think that name is already taken…..I will go with the very original POPTAT.

POPTAT

Put In a Blender- non fat greek yogurt, tart cherry juice, as many scoops of vanilla whey protein powder as you see fit, frozen mixed berries.

Blend.

Pour into popsicle molds or paper cups.

Freeze.

Eat.

Yummy goodness.  Now, POPTAT!

OTHER NEWS

There was a great turn out this morning at LuLuLemon for my pilates mat class.  I thoroughly enjoyed making a full house sweat all the while shopping with my eyes and selecting exactly what I was going to be parting the store with.  Now that is affective conditioning.  Thank you to everyone for coming out!

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