Getting back to Boston

Severe motivational issues for the past week. Work didn't help, but I just couldn't get myself out the door. Going to work was hard enough. This morning, finally got out the door before it got TOO much over 80 degrees. Decided to finally weigh myself before and after a run to see how much fluid I lost. The total: 3.7 pounds, or 1.7 liters. And that was running at 9:40 pace; what if I'd pushed it harder? Distance was 6.3 in just over an hour. Tried to stay in the shade as much as I could, which wasn't all that much.

I think the plan for the foreseeable future, other than joining the fitness center, is to try to do short runs consistently rather than a long weekend run followed by three days off. We'll see how that works. We'll also see how Tyler's summer job works; he starts training in two weeks. Got him moved down from Fedvul yesterday with Pupe's assistance. Wasn't bad, actually, even though it was 90-plus.

Out on the roads tonight for 6.55. Track is out of commission for a few weeks; they're putting artificial turf down in the stadium and have a dirt ramp over the track to protect it from the heavy equipment. So unless I want to climb over am 18-inch mound every lap, no track. I guess I could go to Northside, unless their plastic grass is also going in now too. Averaged 9:45, which is about right given the adjustment for the heat.

Summer is definitely here. It says 79 outside right now, so it was probably 83 or so when I started tonight's run, and it's humid enough to make a difference too. Wasn't a dry thread on me when I got home. But I guess I have to suck it up, or I'll put on another 15 pounds. I'm going to go sign up at Altman tomorrow, too. Need indoor and cross-training options.

Last night's run, with high heat and high humidity, was the last straw. I drove over to Altman today and signed us up for a six-month membership (prepaid). Then Tyler and I went back over there later and worked out. He reported 30 minutes of pool walking and lunges. I did (about) 80 laps of the indoor track, which works out to 6.04 miles if my count was accidentally accurate. I gotta get a click counter; no way I can keep count of laps accurately when I'm clicking off one every 40-45 seconds for an hour. Didn't wear a watch, so only have a rough estimate of pace (~9:00), but it felt like I was really pushing hard. Of course, that could have something to do with the fact it had been only 18 hours since my last run.

I'll still do some outside runs; I think I'd go bonkers doing what I did today day after day, and the dreadmill will only offer limited variety. But it gives me more cross training options, and I can run there if there are thunderstorms and other assorted nastiness (and ice and snow in the winter). Plus I can also run right after (or during) work.

Treadmill intervals today at Altman. I was frankly surprised at how well they went. Did 880 X 5 at 8.1 mph (7:24 pace) with 440 recovery intervals, then 0.61 at 8.7 mph (6:53). I think I probably could have done all six reps at 8.7, and 440 yards was plenty of recovery time.
Total of 7 miles even in 60:42.

I'm even starting to think about finding a late August/early September race to go for a BQ, if I can maintain good training through the summer. Part of that, I guess, will depend on whether I get into London, and if I can pull off joining the medical team at Boston like Ali has done. If I can do that, no reason to bust balls to get a BQ. Just run it for fun and try to qualify for 2013.

I needed something to renew my motivation after Boston, and I found it: Fatness. I don't like all the weight I've gained, and I'm now motivated to run it off. So while I'm doing that, I'll work on other things. I'm also going to emphasize XT, particularly upper body work. If TTM can haul butt with all that upper body muscle he's carrying, why should I look like a straw?

Indoor run at Altman. Seventy laps, 5.28 miles, took 47:39. 

Treadmill run at Altman before the baseball game. Felt pretty good after six miles and decided to bump it to MP for the last three miles. Or actually for the last 24 minutes, which worked out to three miles. I planned an 80-minute run and got in 9.05 in that time. Up to 33 miles this week; I could even get a 50-mile week if I throw in a double-digit run sometime this weekend.

Did 135 laps at Altman this afternoon, which works out to 10.19 miles. Average wound up at 8:55. I wore the Garmin just to check my heart rate, which averaged 139 once I remembered that I hadn't programmed the monitor into the new watch. Once I did that, it worked just fine. Anyway, 139 isn't a bad heart rate for sub-9 average for ancient flatulence like me.

Legs were still pretty stiff from yesterday's progression run, plus running seven straight days after taking so much time off, but it worked well enough. It got me over 50 miles for the week, which I haven't seen in a while.