Gripless

It's Tuesday and that means snow. Not much but just enough to make our hill slippery. Couldn't get a grip today so the 10xhill was a real chore. Eric and I attacked them just the same and by the time we were done we knew we had a good workout.

On Sunday, Mike and I got in 20 miles. He pulled a fast one with his new 5 easy / 5 @ MP / 5 easy / 5 @ MP plan. While the faster legs were hard enough, it oddly made the easy 5 in the middle really tough. I think it's easier to just choose a pace and stick with it. A good workout and it showed that Mike's ready for some good racing in Boston.

A Call to Arms

No wind, dry pavement, and a decent temperature greeted Eric & I for today’s 10 x 440.  I must have gone to the arms a bit more than usual because when I got home they were sore.  That was new.

Drifters

High winds and snow drifts greeted Eric and I this morning for the 10 x hill.  Happy, happy springtime.

Close call at mile 6

I could hear the cold north wind blowing this morning when I got up and I didn't think I was going to particularly enjoy today's run. But surprisingly it turned out better than I thought.

Ran an average 8:03 pace and felt pretty good after a couple of miles. The wind was a factor but for once I wasn't overdressed and stayed warm but not too warm. The last five miles was the easiest with the wind at my back.

I was startled by a walker at 6 mile mark. It was pitch dark, very early, and he (she?) wasn't wearing anything reflective. I didn't realize the person was walking toward me on the side of the road until I was upon him. Two feet to the left and I would have taken him out.

Driving on thin ice

Perhaps it wasn't that thin after all, but Mike & I watched a Chevy Blazer drive out onto Boyden Lake this morning and motor across. I watched and watched afraid that I might see it suddenly splash in. But it didn't. The ice fishermen must know how thick the ice is, but for me it doesn't seem like a good idea to drive onto a frozen lake after days of mid-40 temps.

A good run is one that ends well. The first nine miles were sort of struggle for me. I didn't feel all that well but I finally came around on the 2nd half when I took my own version of a gel - a piece of white bread. It did the trick and I felt better from then on.

Only two more long runs with Mike before he heads to Boston for his 10th running of the Boston Marathon. Then I'm on my own.

Sugar Berry, Marshmallow

These, it appears, are lip gloss colors or maybe flavors. I am not sure. But it's a hot topic of conversation between the girls this evening. I think I just got some more gray.

So thank goodness for good workouts. Another 10 x 440 with Eric this morning. He had the speed on today. The hamstring was hurting when I got up but the ibuprofen kicked in just in time for the speed work so I felt pretty good throughout.

Upset 10

Stomach upset today making for a lousy ten miles. At least the wind was out of the south which makes a dramatic difference in the temperature. A south wind always brings rain and makes the ocean smell wonderful. And at mile 5 I saw what I assume was the space station go by in the western sky.

Perhaps the run wasn't so bad after all.

A Teacher and a Banker Count to Ten

10 x hills this morning. Rushing up them like a couple of highly skilled lunatics. You'll have to ask Eric as to what that actually means.


And here's a short video of Sunday's shuttle launch.

Tough ten

Not a good run this morning. Very tired, sluggish. It was cold and the north wind brought winter back to mind. Even having it at my back for the last five didn't cheer me up.

Delivery Confirmation

A nice 20 mile run with Mike this morning. It's been awhile since we've done 20. It felt good to hit nosebleed mileage in a workout again.

I am hoping my winter blues are on the fade. I've been leaning on friends to get out there. Tuesday and Thursdays are locked in with Eric expecting me at 5:30. And Sundays, of course, with Mike. The rest of the week is hit or miss with motivation rather low.

But today I felt really good. The legs got sore on the run but I didn't mind. Mike had a blind moment at the coffee shop after the run. He was wearing his Blues Brothers prescription shades and was like a blind man at the coffee counter. I'm still chuckling.

The long run spawned a short five mile run this afternoon. Got out for a refreshing leg stretcher around 5:30pm. The first mile was rather stiff but everything loosened up by mile 2 and I felt pretty good and glad to be out there.

But it wasn't just me out there. Either it's a Sunday tradition that I've missed, or somebody just brought a bale in. I counted four cars driving around town with the marijuana smoke just pouring out. I'm surprised I wasn't light headed by the time I got home. So whoever sent the package, I can confirm your customers received it and were happy.

Lunar Lactate Looms Large

An expanding moon sunk under its own weight this morning as Eric and I charged up the hills this morning.  It disappeared at number 8.

 

10x hill.  5.8 miles total. 

Spring forward into darkness

Goodbye light.  Daylight savings means something different to those of us out early.

 

10 miles easy.  Felt good.  ~7:49 pace.

Spoil Spurts

Wind woes in the wee hours but it didn’t limit lactate.  10x440 w/Eric.  5.8 mile total.

 

Cold.

Hills & Heaves

While the snow covered hill limited the speed, the lactate built up anyway as Eric and I did the 10x.  Eric showed true Runner Grit this morning when after number 8 he got hit with the heaves.  After the brief spell was over he calmly said, “Two more go.”  Don’t mess with this guy.

Jog and a Joke

It's not often someone actually asks for a bad joke. It's even rarer when it's called for on command.

But today that's exactly what happened.

It was early in the run when Mike looked like he needed a pick-me-up. So I threw him a light one. And soon after, while we were struggling up a steep hill, I told him a long one. He actually thanked me.

Today was my day.

As it happened, at the base of every hill Mike would command me to tell another joke. And I kept him supplied for 18 miles. What are friends for?