Getting back to Boston

Well, whaddya know? I got that double in after all. Strangely enough, the temps were mirror images -- it was 73 warming up to 79 this morning, 79 cooling off to 73 tonight -- but without the sun beating down on me, tonight was much more comfortable, and I ran much better. Just steady 10:00 pace, what I wanted, and not any undue strain. Even stretched the run out another two laps because I felt OK.

This morning was warm, humid, sunny (which made it feel even warmer). Just the kind of day I hate to run. Got 6 in, though. After all, it could be this warm in Boston next April, although I darn sure hope not. Bleah. Thirty-five miles this week. To get to my goal of 100 for thee month, need 34 next week. Should be doable if I can get out of bed, or get in some 10 p.m. runs. 

Got a run in before work -- because I didn't know I was supposed to be at work at 7. Turns out, however, that the work schedule shakes out better if I'm on 12-12, which is what I thought I was on anyway. So now I'm on 12-12 for the rest of the week. OK by me.

Anyway, got out while it was still cool (but humid) and ran over to Cross Park. Two laps around the lake, then back home, total of exactly 5.00. Lots of hills on that run, of course, but that's what I need getting ready for Boston. Ran negative split in spite of net uphill coming back, which is good, with overall average of about 9:30. Very good run. Need 29 miles the rest of the week to get to 100 for the month. If I don't get lazy or really sore, I should be able to handle that.

Now if the BAA will just confirm my entry, I'll be good. Hotel, check. Flights available, will arrange after entry confirmed. Just need that entry. Confirmation on my birthday would be good.

Well, I'm 50 now. I've been bombarded by birthday wishes on FB, which is kinda overwhelming. I've gotten like 50 or so, and it's not even noon. My cellphone is detonating from the notifications. Mumber called too, right after my run.

Went to Ben Geren for the morning's run. Forgot the watch, which was just as well; just tried to keep a smooth, comfortable pace, then push it just a bit on the last lap. Looped around the parking lot twice for a little extra distance, so I'm estimating total at 5.02 (0.4 around the parking lot). I'm guessing the pace was in the 9:30ish range, a little faster on the last lap. Need 24 miles now for 100 for the month. Sounds more doable, even though it's just five a day, every day.

Not ideal having to work 12 hours on my birthday, but sitting down to check my e-mail this afternoon and finding that my entry to the Boston Marathon has been accepted makes up for a whole bunch of it. I've had to fight hard not to let myself go whole-hog for this; the nagging voice keeps saying something is going to go wrong. I wasn't going to qualify, they were gonna change the qualifying standards (they still might, but not for 2011 :) ), my entry wasn't going to be accepted, I wouldn't be able to afford the trip, blah blah blah. Well, I qualified, I'm in, I have an affordable room by central Boston standards, I can do frequent flyer miles for the flight, I can get time off from work (and I have a job to get time off from). There's still the chance of getting hurt, which I'll be extremely paranoid about since they're not taking deferments any more, but everything else has fallen into place. And how sweet is it to get the notification on my 50th birthday? Aww, man.

Progression run today at Cross Park, although not intentionally. I was really stiff when I started, but it seemed to feel better as I went a little faster. Then, toward the end, I found myself dissociating -- thinking about everything but running. And, as I did that, I went faster too. Did 7+ laps, 4.70 miles, average 9:33.

Thought today would be a URD after I slept until 10. Then the ER was extremely slow and I got to leave at 9:40. Got home, changed, and went for a run. Decided to do laps around the mall, because, while boring, it's very well lit and thus pretty safe for a late-night run. So I ran down the hill on Duncan, did five laps, came back up Duncan and looped out on Burnham long enough to give me a 7-miler. Went well; maybe the extra 12 hours rest helped. Averaged 9:20 for the whole run, including sub-9 for the last mile including the uphill. Couldn't ask for much better at this stage of my training.

Busy morning. Got up and went to the bank to deposit the money from the IRA. Unable to transfer it to Pam, as bank couldn't verify with issuing bank and thus put a hold on it. In one week, transfer money. Split the IRA, then end the marriage.  It's nearing an end. And I'm just numb to it. Want to get it over with, basically, and try to move on. There are plenty of cute nurses at work; maybe one of them would be interested.

Anyway, after that did my run. High 40s, sunny, no wind, very good running weather. Still quite stiff after last night's 7, but  hoped it would loosen. It did, some. Was able to maintain a decent clip anyway, and, as usual, a bit of a progression. Miles ranged from 9:58 to 9:28, although I was in no way pushing the pace. Run interrupted quite a bit by having to wait for crosswalk lights. Wait was never very long, but I must have had to wait 6-8 times. Run totaled 4.12. I think another 8 miles over the weekend gets me to 100 for the month.

Just getting in the miles. Two laps around the mall, down to Rogers on Waldron, back up to Gordon, up the hill and around. Right at 4 miles. Legs kida rubbery, but got it done.