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March 23, 2006
It's a Strange, Strange World
It feels wildly warm out, almost like it could be. Could it really be? Is it possibly? Do I dare even say the word, well, I'll say it in a hushed tone, spring?
The thermometer 1000 feet downhill in town read 55 degrees, midafternoon, in the sun. The wind was still blowing fiercely, but it was, well, a different wind. It wasn't the bitter cold north wind blowing up the valley and meeting the mountains like a huge wave hitting a shore. Instead, it was a wind coming from the mountains, blowing from the south, blowing hard, but not cold. Instead, it was blowing insects. Little biting-fly things that took hold on exposed skin pieces at the slightest lull in the wind and chomped down as if to hold on for dear life. The only way to avoid them was to JUST KEEP MOVING.
The day's sensation, with its warmth and south wind, already felt just a little bit strange. Things kept getting more and more strange as the day progressed. First, was The Walking Lady, who I see go by religiously every weekday. She walks at a hurried pace, but still she walks bundled up as if tackling an Antarctic snowstorm. Today she was wearing a t-shirt. This was the first clue. The next clue was the people across the street. Admittedly, I don't know them and I shouldn't judge them, but they had their cat tied out on a leash, ON THE ROOF OF THEIR HOUSE. Cat on a leash? Okay, I've seen cats on leashes before, but on the roof of a house? This provided ample opportunity to strike up conversation with my neighbors, "So, does your cat like the roof?" "Yes, she loves it. Besides, if we tie her up there, then she can't kill anything." I thought to myself, but didn't dare ask, do they worry about accidental strangulation if kitty ever fell or decided to take the big leap? Warm weather does strange things to people.
And so, onto more normal things, like running. I took Monday off of running, but spent a part of the day skiing. It was warm-ish on Monday, in the 30s, and the snow was soft and slow. It was a little sad because it felt like skiing season was coming to its close. The dog ran and I skiied about 6 miles, all uphill on the way out, and downhill on the way back. Not hard work at all.
Tuesday I ran 5.5 easy. I ran so ungodly s-l-o-w, it nearly killed me. Now that I'm doing other things besides just general aerobic runs, I'm slowing the recoveries way, way down. It kills me to shuffle along, both mentally and physically. The worst part is that is just hurts, more pounding on the body, you know? I spent about 2 hours skiing, again. I didn't stay out long because the snow was just pitiful, worse than Monday. It felt like I was getting nowhere, and I really wasn't. I'm afraid that unless we get some more snow, this is the end of skiing near my house. If I drive 1 1/2 hours or so and higher in elevation, I think there will be some more skiing left in the season. I'm kind of sad!
Today, first of all let me mention that I WORE SHORTS. ON THIS DAY, THE 23 OF MARCH, I WORE SHORTS. Today I did another workout. 1.5 miles warmup, strides, drills, 2 x 7:00 tempo intervals with 5:00 easy jogging between, 6 x "quarter mile" (for lack of a track) at 1:33-1:34 with quarter mile jog recoveries, 1 mile down, logging 8.5 miles total. I felt like a whale beaching herself on some North Carolina shoreline on the first interval. Really, I think it looked ugly too. I was battling a slight uphill grade for the first half with that southern wind in my face for the whole interval. I just couldn't settle in and feel comfortable, which is the whole point of doing tempo intervals. The second one felt much mo' betta', of course it did with the wind at my back and the downhill grade! I went by feel, but I covered a significantly further distance on the second 7:00. Then some quarter miles. I want a track! Thaw, dry, do all the things you need to do to become a track again! I "measured" out a quarter mile whilst shuffing along at 10:00 pace on a flat, open part of the trail. When I ran it, I hit my quarter mile goal time, and thought my "measurement" must be close. Well, the whole point was to run a pace about 20 seconds faster than 5K pace, and it felt about right. I ran all 1:33s, except the last one, 1:35, oops. Tired. The pooch ran the whole workout with me. I kept her leashed to me for the tempo portion, then I unleashed her while I ran quarters figuring she wouldn't want to cover the same portion of trail over and over with me. Sure enough, she ran back and forth 12 times, right by my side. What an athlete, better than me! Feels good.
I have to go back to work tonight. Boo. All good things like days off must come to an end, I guess. I've been meaning to mention that Duncan's strength workouts (I unofficially made him my personal trainer though he doesn't exactly know it yet) are killing me. I love it.
Posted by Meghan at March 23, 2006 5:14 PM
Comments
What a great workout! Congrats - you are progressing right along!
I was smiling when you were talking about your dog running with you. I can envision our dog doing the same thing - just running right along side! Can you take her off the leash on long runs and just trust that she won't run away? If so, did you have to "train" her to do that or did she just do it?
Posted by: Beth at March 24, 2006 5:19 AM
I'm honored. Your personal trainer? Awesome. Keep me posted how it's going, I have more for you...Ok, now the bad news. Payment shall be 1 park ranger hat. You know, the one like the dude wears at Camp Jellystone in the Yogi Bear show. I'm kidding. Keep up the strength stuff. It will help prevent injury as well as improve your running.
Posted by: Duncan at March 24, 2006 7:03 AM