She moves like sea breeze.

Moving to Patchogue was a difficult transition running-wise.  Growing up, most of my runs happened in trails.  I lived a mile from Southhaven (where I would run all alone and never be scared, which was really, really dumb of me) and would run from my house to the fenced in park, hop the fence, run across the dam over the river, and through the woods I went.


Also, my mom would bring me to run perimeters at the high school after Cindy Quinn, a Pat-Med coach, ironically, one of Rob's coaches, was raped and murdered within my school district lines.  My mom would sit in the car and watch as I ran along the edge of the high school grounds; then, she would drive to the other side of the parking lot as I ran along the other side of the high school.  What a good mom.


Of course, us Longwood gals also had the blessing of having so many parks right by our high school, so when we had company, we could cruise through the trails of Cathedral or Prosser Pines.  I can still run most of those trails with my eyes closed.  I am a bad guide through those trails because I turn on auto-pilot and just start randomly turning without any warning since they are such second nature to me.


Now, I run the roads, which I have never done on a regular basis.  Even in college I stuck to miles of trails.  But I do have to admit, once I mapped out some routes, sometimes the road does truly rise to meet me.


My favorite and most regular loop is my 7.5 mile-course (ran it Wednesday in 48:33).  Basically, I mapped it craving waterviews.  I start out at my house, run along South Ocean to the water (about 1/2 mile), and loop through Shorefront Park around the bandshell and next to the softball fields. Around this point, just before I reach my first mile mark, I always take a moment (no stopping) to relish the view of the Great South Bay and Fire Island in the distance.  I always feel very lucky to live so close to this spot.


My mile marker is also a pretty special spot. Lombardi's on the Bay, my wedding venue.  Even though the wedding excitement has come and gone, I always try to take a peek to see if there's another bride enjoying her special day.  Likewise, just after the mile marker is where Rob proposed on the dock.

Patchogue View

I do a quick loop on the "L-dock," which is still under construction after Hurricane Irene reeked havoc on our town in late August, ending our summer fun too early.  From there, I charge over to Sandspit, another tiny beach where the Fire Island ferries are stationed.   After I run along the water for a little while, I meander through the town on my way to Corey Beach, my new favorite summer spot to go with girlfriends.  Des and I actually went on the day her baby was born.  She thought her uncomfortable feelings were because she was feeling too hot, but in actually, she was in labor.


Corey Beach marks mile 5, and then I loop back on home to make 7.5.  After a while this loop becomes routine, but I try to keep the precious views in mind and appreciate the beauty I get to see on a regular basis.

My finish line: Home sweet home... I plan to spend a lot of
my summer time enjoying our backyard!

Today, after running this loop, I couldn't help but think that this is my real last weekend of "work." I am done May 9th with all of my schools.  Post, which gives me the brunt of my work, is done May 2.  HALLELUJAH. I am so ready for no work and all summer.


So here are some of my running summer goals (in no order in particular):
1. Win the Summer Series trip again
2. Wake up early and get an a.m. workout in
3. Swim on a regular basis at Patchogue pool
4. Learn to do the flip while swimming
5. Lift more/Do more core
6. Eat an awesome breakfast on pretty plates after the a.m. workout
7. Drink a protein shake after major long runs
8. Hydrate
9. Find a seeded 1/2 marathon for the fall
10. Start researching a marathon....
11. Stretch and roll
12. Keep up on my running log
13. Get up to 75 miles per week
14. Keep my weight in the teens (118 ish) - but throw that idea away if weightlifting makes me a little heavier but fit
15. Get slightly unattractive, scary abs like the ladies in the marathon...just for a little while :)
16. Arrange a Diva workout day
17. Arrange some workouts with Rob's old high school coach
18. Remember to blog about my craziness :)

Ten days :)

                                          Tyrone Wells' Sea Breeze, one of my favorite peaceful summer running songs