Getting back to Boston

Up before dawn to run with Kathy L. She did 5, I did 7. Temp was 26 when we started, went down another degree, but tights and two layers up top was plenty. My first run on the roads in the Newtons. Seemed to be OK. I'm still adjusting my stride to them somewhat.

Very nice run this morning. Tiffany wanted to go with me, which would have been a very nice diversion, but she texted me at 5:15 a.m. to back out. Oh well. Waited until after 6:30 to start, and did it progression style as usual. Last 2.6 were sub 9:00, overall average 9:20 for 8.6. Kinda run I need to do more often (and a little faster, to be honest). It was cold, but comfortable in long sleeves, gloves and tights, and I probably could have skipped the tights.

Now to work on rescheduling that run with Tiffany. We can discuss Friday when I get my massage... 

Progression run along the canal near the Biltmore in Phoenix. Legs were kinda heavy for the first mile or so until I got going, then I went into a flow and got faster and faster. Got down to sub-9 eventually.

Slow run along the canal in Phoenix. Felt warmer than the listed 72 degrees, and I worked up quite a sweat, even with the dry heat. So when I got back to the hotel, the bellman gave me a cold bottle of water. Exactly what the PA ordered! Home tomorrow, easy run with Kathy L on Friday, race on Saturday, do something on Sunday.

Got a call from Jim Robb while I was out running. Looks like there has been a resolution. Not what I wanted, but probably what I expected. He was already gone when I returned the call, but I'll get with him tomorrow or Friday and find out exactly where things stand. 

Slow and easy with Kathy L. Off to Russellville tomorrow.

Limited goals for this race. Just wanted to get my legs going faster than 8:00 pace for the first time in a long time. Succeeded in that pursuit. Secondary goal was getting under 23:00. Did that too, with nine seconds to spare. If I'd caught the guy in front of me, I'd have gotten my third straight AG award in that race, but not quite. Fourth in AG, 42nd overall is OK. It was about 40 but felt a lot colder with the wind. Fortunately, the trees kept the course pretty well screened from the wind. Maybe I can take this and build on it speedwise.

Plan was for an easy 10 this morning. Hah! Shoulda known better just based on who I was running with, starting with completely-outta-control Rose and way-faster-than-me Joel. Between those two, I was going to be lucky if they weren't going sub-8:30. (And George backed out at the last minute with a sore calf). I wasn't lucky. They got so far ahead of me in the first five miles I could barely see them -- and I was going sub 9. They finally waited for me at the turnaround. Wound up with 10 at about 8:48 pace. That's fast enough, thank you.

Managed some reasonable facsimile of a speed night tonight at SHS. I was sore, stiff (and lazy) all day, and didn't know what I could get out of it. But the first 800 was 3:32, and the last three were all below 3:30. So I'll take that. If I can string together six of those and tough it out the last 200, that'd be a 5K PR. Which is one of my goals, to get a PR this year in something other than a new distance (the 2-miler in Conway is an automatic PR). I decided not to push any more reps; I'd gotten more than I expected out of the workout. So I jogged five laps instead of doing one more rep and called it a night.

Seven along Phoenix after work, progressing to sub-9 pace in the last mile. Tired, but got it done. Just general fatigue, though, not achy legs or anything.

Finally got myself out the door this morning after two extremely stressful days for an 8 miler. Legs were heavier than usual for the first couple of miles until I warmed up (weather didn't; it got colder during my run). Not a great run, just OK, but needed to get out.

Lia was hit by a hit and run drive Thursday morning, appears to have trashed her left knee, although no MRI done yet. Mercy ER did X-rays, made sure nothing was broken and sent her home. Possibility of internal injuries doesn't appear to have entered their minds. But the knee was dislocated, which doesn't sound good from a ligament standpoint. MRI on Monday, we hope. I was supposed to take her to the movies last night. Obviously that didn't happen.

Then Jennifer was sent to Newport yesterday. I knew it was coming, of course, but it didn't lessen the impact. Not sure when I'll be able to go visit. Robb met with me for an hour and gave me some heads-ups on what she and we can expect. Todd and Janis notified. Hopefully I'll hear from her soon with further info. 

And both days were crush jobs at work. Not sure I would have made that movie date with Lia anyway, since I didn't finish the last admit (in IMC, where I'm not supposed to go) until 8. HODs using me for a litter box again. Considering the HODs in question, absolutely not a surprise. We'll see if Acton does it to me today. 

MLR before dawn/work. First half was with Tiffany at her suggestion; nice to have some company and get to know her a little better. We ran 5.65 at 9:15 average. Then I did another 5+ by myself at about the same pace. I got really tired toward the end but the downhill from SHS helped me get home at decent pace.

Now for shower, a little nap and work. I really hope today is light, but that's not very likely. 

Easy 6 along Phoenix this afternoon, once I finally got myself out the door. Beautiful weather. Tomorrow, it might be sleeting at that time. Just took it easy, wound up at about 9:30 pace.

Seven plus. In three inches of snow, with sleet falling on top of that. Felt like more like 15 by the time I was done. I know the drivers who were spraying my legs with slush thought I was nuts. They were right.

Morning run with Kathy M. at Ben Geren. I knew why she asked me to run with her; she wanted me to push her. I obliged for 8 miles. Then I pushed myself even harder for the last 5+. I ran a half this morning in faster than her race goal. It was really cold with a pretty stiff breeze, but I ended up shedding the half-zip and the track pants as I went along.

Morning run at the WAR room with Kathy L, Erica and Daniel. Kathy got wound up and she and Daniel ran off and left us. Not that we were going slowly. Last three miles were sub-10, and I did the last mile in 8:41. I needed this one to get some kinks out, because I'm sure Tiffany is gonna cook me in the morning. Six tomorrow would put me at 40 miles for the week, which isn't bad for taking two days off.

Interesting morning. Met Tiff at 8 for a 10K run from the Support House. We took it easy on the outward leg, then cooked it on the return. I enjoyed the heck out of it. Then we went to Starbucks and got coffee and talked about the store, and a few other things. I'm sensing some attraction here. I hope she follows through, because I'd like to. She doesn't want to date clients, and I get that, but...

Anyway, back to business. I have the mileage just about ramped up to start the 12/70 next week for Bayshore, which is now 13 weeks away. One hitch I hadn't thought of -- my Mondays will be tied up with either work or Women Can Run until early May, so I'll have to work any speed sessions in some other time. Which can be done. If I do a long run on Sunday, I'm not up for speed work on Monday anyway. 

Mini speed session at SHS. Weather was misty turning to all out rain. Rose and Lionel showed up but left pretty quick, and I was out there alone. Decided to do 4 400s. First at 1:41, then 1:39, 1:34 and 1:32. It was pouring on the last one, which made it easy to decide not to do a fifth rep (I probably wouldn't have anyway). Point was just to get my legs turning over, not to do a big VO2 max session. I'm still hoping I can break 14:00 for that two mile next weekend. Not sure if I'll take tomorrow off or do an easy fish. See how the weather is and how my legs feel, I guess.

Fairly easy 8 before work in 1:15 around the horseshoe.

Got off work 30 minutes early tonight, went by the Women Can Run meeting, got a few hugs out of the deal, which is always a bonus. Duly inspired, I went home, changed, drove over to Marketplace and decided to convert my 5 miler into 9. Then I decided to put the hammer down. From the Old Greenwood overpass on 540, I ran the last 3.38 in sub-BQ pace. Now I just have to string together 23 more just like it ... Seriously, very happy with that run, especially after a 10 hour day at work. I think that I will really stress MP work this time. That's where I've fallen short in my training since Boston -- not enough at the speed I need.