Getting back to Boston

Ran 7 this evening at 9:21 pace. Felt much easier than a slower pace did yesterday, even from the beginning in the 17-miler. Glad the legs snapped back quickly, although they usually do if I give them a chance (ice bath, stretching, good night's sleep, etc.).

Unscheduled rest day today. Business dinner at Doe's was followed by a bear encounter. Decided to give the GI tract and the legs a break and bag the run, since this is a stepdown week anyway. Went to bed early, too. Will resume the quest tomorrow.

As good a run as I've had in a loooong time. Legs felt pretty good after last night's URD. Had planned to do 8-9 easy when I left the house, but soon decided it would be a shame to waste a favorable night like this on a slow run. Warmed up with 4 at a moderate pace, up to Shiloh Rehab and starting back, and cranked the pace on the return trip. Turned back into JBH, still at sub-GMP, and kept that going for four laps of the short loop, total of 5.6 or so at sub-GMP, almost fast enough to be considered a tempo run.. Slowed then for "recovery", briefly, but darn if the last three-tenths weren't back under GMP. Total of 11.95 at 8:24 average pace. An 8:24 average pace at Memphis would be sub-3:40 -- darn close to my 2011 BQ. And I would have easily broken two hours for a half-marathon. Again, it amazes me that I'm not out of breath in the least as I type this a couple of minutes after coming in the door. If my leg muscles were in as good a shape as my cardiovascular conditioning, I'd be going sub-3, much less BQ in the Ancient Flatus division.

Easy walk/run tonight. The walk came first; my wife decided to venture out of the house for some rare exercise and asked me to accompany her, which I gladly did. About 150 yards down the sidewalk, turn around and return. It was dark and Pam doesn't know the neighborhood sidewalks yet, so my night vision/sidewalk experience helped her; there are a couple of places you could trip if you don't avoid the hazards. Dropped her off back at the house and left for a solo recovery run. Solo, that is, except for the reappearance of the crazy black dog in the park. He's going to bite me sooner or later, unless I get a rock, some pepper spray or a .22 pistol. I wish it did any good to call animal control, but they're not going to go out in a park at 9:00 at night, and he's not out there during daylight hours.

Legs were still quite heavy from last night's MP/tempo run. I thought they'd loosen tonight after a few miles, but they didn't. Still managed to maintain a mediocre 9:50 pace without any visits from the walk monster.

Couple of days before I return to central Arkansas, rejoin the Crackheads for a morning, and celebrate Mumber and Pupe's 50th wedding anniversary. Sheesh, fitty years is a LONG time.

Another good run tonight. Warmed up for 18 minutes, then started intervals, or fartlek surges, whatever you wanna call them, two minutes each with 5 minutes or less in between. Ran them on the short loop at JBH, which is fairly flat but has one significant dip with an equal rise afterward. Last time I did this run, I planned it where I was jogging through the dip. Tonight, all six surges went through and out of the dip. Paces of the surges were 7:27, 7:00, 6:59, 6:39, 6:29 and 6:28. Completely unplanned, but I couldn't have planned it any better -- each surge got faster.

Early but short day at work tomorrow, then T and I head for Bryant in the afternoon. Dunno if I'll get up early for a short jog or run when I get back. Considering I'm batchin' it tonight since Pam's already down there, I'm leaning toward an early 3 or 4 before work.

Up early today, only 10 hours or so after finishing last night's intervals, for a quick 4 before I went to work and then driving to central Arkansas for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Don't know exactly how long I took, but it seemed to be a pretty quick pace, and I was back at the house about 10 minutes before 7 after leaving at 6:08 or so. It was windy and chilly, but fortunately the rain didn't start until later. May not be so lucky tomorrow in Maumelle with the Crackheads.

Back in Maumelle today, rejoining the Crackheads after about a six-week absence. I was worried about time because I was supposed to be back in Bryant at my brother's house by 9:30, and had to run 16 plus drive back to Saline County, shower and change. That helped inspire me to run a little faster, I guess, and the result was a pretty good time -- finishing 15.9 in less than 2:30, even with some pit stops along the way.

Started out slowly with Pat and Chris, and the first mile was over 10 minutes. Then, after the first pit stop, I picked up the pace for 2 and 3. Mile four again slower due to rather prolonged pit stop. Then I started stringing together low-9-minute miles. Short walk break on an uphill pushed mile 10 back up to 10:00 pace, then picked it up the rest of the way, and the last two miles were sub-9 pace.

Now anniversary festivities for my parents for the rest of the day, with some football and probably a nap in there somewhere, and back to NWA tomorrow.