Getting back to Boston

If that which does not kill us makes us stronger, than I ought to be stronger after tonight's 7.8, cause it darn near killed me. Rained while I was mowing the yard this afternoon, which was great while it lasted, but then it was not much cooler and a lot more humid. The run was a pure slog, especially the first 4.5 miles. Once it got dark, it cooled off just a touch, enough that I could maintain a decent pace for most of it. Felt very weak, though.

Up at dawn today, when it was only 76, for an easy 5 with hill sprints. Felt better/cooler this morning, although I definitely worked up a sweat. Also was out earrly enough that the sun beating down on me was not a factor; barely got any sunlight at all and the sun crept above the horizon. Averaged about 9:30 for the running, which was a lot better than I've been doing. I guess I'll be running early for a while, at least when I'm not on the overnight shift at Sparks (whenever that starts). It's supposed to be at or above 100 for most of this week, after 99 yesterday.

Busy day for being unemployed. Spent the morning trying to find out about Tyler's change from the dorm to apartments because there are too many incoming freshmen. I think that will be OK. Cheaper than the dorm, lots more space, not too far from campus, and he'll probably get to room with his friend Alex.

In the afternoon, T and I drove down to look at the apartments and talk to a leasing agent. Couldn't take a tour, though. Then we went to the stadium for the first day of football practice for the newcomers. That was kinda fun, and T and I got interviewed by KNWA news, which aired on the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. news shows. Left practice a little after 4 and went home, then drove back to Fleet Feet to run with the gang. I was due for a fartlek run on the schedule, and decided to do that within the framework of the fun run. Did 8 X 40 second surges within a 6-mile run. The surges went fine, the rest of the run was rough. Somebody said I looked really bad when I got back to the store. I can believe it. Then got dinner , went home, ate, took a lukewarm soak, and went to bed. Which is why I'm a little late with this blog update.

Hopefully I find out today that I get to start work Monday (fingers crossed). I don't mind not working, but I do mind not having any money. Eleven weeks on my glutes is quite enough, thank you.

Planned to do a recovery run at dawn but woke up with a splitting headache, which finally subsided around 8:30. Then went for a slow run in the park. It was in the 70s with a bit of breeze, but that still didn't stop me from pouring out the sweat. Took about 2 miles for the glutes to loosen up from last night's fartlek. Pretty sure I did negative-split as a result, but haven't looked yet... Yep, I did. Every mile faster than the one before. Stopped once for water and voiding, otherwise chugged right along. Somebody had a charcoal grill fired up before 9 a.m. Guess they're doing a big noontime cookout.

Hope to do a small run tomorrow, then 6 or 7 Sunday. Next week is a scheduled cutback anyway, which will work well if I start work. If I don't, then I may push back the cutback. The work schedule may also determine which marathon I enter. If I start Monday, then I wuld be scheduled to work the weekend of CIM, but not Tucson/Rocket City the next weekend. If I wait another week, CIM would work.

Yuck. Really, really bad run. Felt weak, nauseated, maybe a little reflux. It was in the 70s, but felt a lot warmer due to the bright sunshine. I had planned to do 5, but shut it down early. No sense taking any extra risks, given that I don't have health insurance for another three weeks... Finished the week with 5 runs for 29 miles. I just think I'll be doing a lot better once this heat wave subsides.

Thinking about my training once I ramp it up. Hudson stresses HMP and MP running. Which is fine. I think what I'm going to do is base MP on my VDOT number, instead of on the 3:30 goal. My VDOT says I can go sub-3:25, which means about 7:48 pace. I will try to use that pace when the schedule calls for MP.

Six miles at 10:00 pace should not be HTFU material, but it was tonight. Of course, still being almost 90 degrees at 9:00 when I started didn't help either (that's 9 PM). Stopped twice for water, but did not succumb to the walk monster, and actually picked te pace up after the last water break, with the last full mile in 9:04. I'm probably making it more difficult on myself by running so slow, but the heat... Anyway, hope to find out tomorrow that I can start work Tuesday or Wednesday. That would be nice. So would a paycheck.

Up at 5:45 for four slow miles (although I didn't go out until 6:30, to let it get light). Reasonably cool, although humid. Then did four hill sprints at the end. Not sure yet if I'll run tomorrow. Also not sure if I'll work tomorrow, although I doubt it.

I ran. Sort of. End of story.

Hill reps up Pump Station, four times up the hill at what was supposed to be 3K pace. I was dyin'. Then jogged home and ran Hudson hills in front of the house.

Oh yeah, started work yesterday. First day of work in 85 days.

That 3.36 I recorded on the 15th (last night), I actually ran tonight. Not that it matters, but just for the record...

I think I put last week's workout on the wrong day. It was Monday, not Sunday. Oh well. When you only run once in a week, it really doesn't matter which day it was.

Back on the road again at the end of my first day off in nine days, since starting the new job (which is promising, although it will be a challenge). Got out at JBH and actually felt pretty good. The hip flexors wer sore, as they were at work last night for some reason, but it wasn't too warm or humid and I felt pretty good from the knees down and the waist up. Shut it down after 8 just because I didn't want to overdo it and limp around for several days. I need to run pretty consistently on my off weeks to make up for what I miss during the work weeks. But it was a pretty good 8, averaging under 10 despite the soreness and plenty of hills (four times around the big loop at JBH).

Great morning for a run -- temps in the 60s, pleasant. Just wish the legs had cooperated. Did not want to run those hill reps, which I did up the hill past Hunt School. Flexors didn't want to go, then the outside of the right knee started hurting. So I shut it down after three of the scheduled four reps. They were supposed to be at 3K effort. Dunno about effort, but as far as pace goes, they were barely under GMP. Well, maybe the last one was decent pace (7:36 according to the Garmin).

Keeping my fingers crossed that this cooler weather is a trend, not a blip. It's supposed to get into the 50s tonight. Shortly off to Fort Smith to look for a place to live.

Finally a good run! Temps in the 50s and the body and legs both cooperated, once some early-morning GI issues cleared. Plan was for a hard progression run. Warmed up with 4 slow (four laps at JBH), which felt good and I found myself slowly accelerating. Then accelerated. Did the first mile at 7:53, which is roughly GMP, then pushed it harder the second mile, 7:27. That left about a quarter-mile recovery jog back to the house. Also left me feeling much better about my fitness. I've been in shape, it's just my body has not been able to overcome this heat. Take away the heat, and I can run well, I guess.

Going back to Fort Smith, hopefully to wrap up the househunting. have a couple of duplexes to go see. I'd be happy with the place on White Oak, but want to see a couple of others just to make sure. If White Oak is the choice, I'll go ahead and call Charles and put in the app and the (postdated) deposit. Then I can work on utilities and stuff next week.

Twelve miles this morning. With surges. In August. I'm a little surprised I managed it. Started out just after 6 as it was barely light enough to see. Maintained good strong pace for the first 7.6 miles, which got me back to the house for a gel and some Gatorade. Would have thought that would have helped. It didn't. Within about 15 minutes of restarting, I was bonking. Struggled on, threw in a surge to see if that helped (nope), struggled some more, another surge (nope again), more struggles, then just sucked it up and pushed it on home. By this time the sun was up and warm enough to be an issue when I was out of the shade, although it probably wasn't over 70 degrees.

Plan after I finish logging and blogging is to take a nap, go get some boxes, do some packing. I think I'll be able to avoid some commuting this week by taking my memory foam pad down and sleeping on that a couple of nights. Which will make my life much easier.