Getting back to Boston

After 12 days off (10 of which I worked), and probably five pounds added, back at it at MAFC. Slow 4. Legs felt very fatigued, like I'd just run 15 yesterday or something. But I got it done.

Ah, finally a hint of fall, after a big thunderstorm last night. Mid-60s for the run; felt a lot like Stockholm. Joined the WAR ladies at Marketplace. They were doing 15+, I wasn't going anywhere near that far. So I ran about 4 with them, turned around and retraced my steps with a detour or two to get up to 8. Legs were still stiff like yesterday, and the girls' 11:00 pace was a relief. So much so that when I turned around, I maintained the same pace. Baby steps, Jeffrey, baby steps.  Gotta get back in shape, just like you did in '07.

Wells Lake loop with Kathy and Staci. Started at 11:30 and it was already 80 degrees and climbing, so a little more challenging from that standpoint than I would have preferred. But I got 6.75 done without too much trouble. Foot is still bothersome, legs act like they don't want to move at anything faster than 10:00 pace. But I have to get back in shape. I need the stress reduction, I need to lose weight, and I need the cheap therapy until my life settles down. Whenever that is.

Five after work at MAFC (haven't done THAT in a long time!). Pushed the pace more than usual.

Morning run with Kathy from Marketplace. Neither one of us felt like going very far, so we cut our planned run in half, basically. Spitting rain, very humid. I was still quite sore from pushing the pace on the indoor run Wednesday night.

Thought I was meeting Kathy and others at WAR this morning. They were out there, all right, but started from Wells Lake, as I discovered when I got over there. That's OK. Settled in at a comfortable plod (10:30ish), then managed to pick it up for the last mile or so. About as long as I've gone in a while with zero walking. Still very humid, although no rain (yet). Now shower, nap, drive to Fayetteville and hope we don't get absolutely crushed.

With everything else going on in my life, right now I think running, as so often in the past, is going to be my therapy, and I'm going to rely on it more and more as the weather cools. Plus I have these 10 pounds I need to lose... 

Sorta followed the Survivors Challenge 10K course with Kathy this afternoon. It was a struggle to keep up with her at 10:00 pace, then my left leg went numb as I went up the hill on Hendricks just off Country Club. It came back eventually, but in the meantime Kathy left me, even though I kept running on the numb leg. I guess I didn't really need to drop out at Bentonville, but I couldn't run fast, which is why I was there.

Have a running date Wednesday with Heidi, who I sorta met at Vicki's birthday party last night. Young, attractive, runs -- what's not to like? ;) We'll see how -- or if -- this works out. I know better than to get too optimistic, but hey, I'm giving myself a chance anyway. 

Another midday run with Kathy. We met at Hobby Lobby, and I ran to and from HL, so I did about 1.7 more than she did. Again right around 10:00 pace, which seems to be what I can handle given the current temperature. Maybe I'll get a bit faster as the temperature cools, independent of getting in better shape. Still on to run with Heidi tomorrow. Keeping fingers crossed...

Kathy's trying to get me to pick/enter a late winter marathon. She's going to Phoenix. I just don't like the idea of a RnR race, but we'll see if I can come up with something better.

Met Heidi and her friend Audrey at Golden Living for a late morning 3.6-mile run through Fianna Hills. Which wasn't too awfully hilly; one big downhill and then made it up at the end. Enjoyed the run and especially the company. I think there will be future meetings with Heidi; running shoes won't always be involved <thumbs up>. Legs are starting to come around. The tendinitis is still there, but not getting any worse, and I can deal with it.

Passed on 5:15 run with Sheri for 8:15 run with Kathy. Ran for an hour, a smidge over 6 miles, fairly comfortable pace. Warmer than I would like, but a bit of a breeze, so not too bad. I'm trying to get over 1000 miles for the year by month's end, then maybe get to 1400 for the year. We'll see how that works out. Probably will work about like my love life is working out :(

Twelve low and slow with Tammy and Sherri. It's my first 12 miler since Stockholm, which was 10 weeks ago today. The 4-1 pattern worked nicely, and they forced me to keep my pace down and not overdo it. Weather was great, even a bit chilly on the back side of the Ben Geren golf course. Started at probably 5:30, finished a little before 8. Now chocolate milk, shower, nap, go to the Razorback game.

Don't remember much about this run except that I did it. Joined Sheri, Heidi, Ronda, Kathy and Rachel S. into Ben Geren, then returned to start with Kathy. Total of 41 for the week,

Two days off for work, so got myself back out on my own before work. Very humid. Did the SHS loop, exactly 5 miles.

Out dark and early from Marketplace with Kathy and (briefly) Cindy. Looped around until Kathy got home, then ran the last four miles on my own, progression style. Wound up with probably a 9:45 average, correcting for failing to stop my watch while I talked toKathy outside her house. Looking like I'll get to 100 miles this month, if not 1000 for the year (yet). Now a nap before work.

Run in the rain with some of the WAR ladies, at least for 4.5 before I peeled off and went back to the car. Went OK. Lack of sleep is catching me for sure. Visiting Jen today, we'll see how that goes.

Progression run after work. Original plan was to get in a couple of miles to get to 100 for the month, pure OCD round number stuff. But I got out, felt pretty good, weather was reasonably cool, and I altered the course and kept going. Ended up with 6.62. Wanted to make sure I finished 10K in less than an hour, and topped that by 34 seconds, then did the last 0.4 in 3.5 minutes. Not burning fast, but faster than I've been running. Kinda set me up for speed work tomorrow.