Slow Ride

Horn blasted at 8:13 AM for Davis Stampede 10K. I ran it merely as a tempo run...good thing...I'm nowhere near racing shape. Went out too fast. Splits:

1: 6:22
2: 6:39
3: 6:56
4: 7:03
5: 7:04
6: 6:53
.2: 1:27

Strangely enough, this 10K, the slowest I've run in God knows how long earned me some hardware! Believe it or not, I won my age division (40-44) thus garnering: a New Balance hat; a medal; and a free burrito.

I'll take it, smirkingly. In Nov., 2 weeks prior to the CIM, I ran 41:40. Today's effort is only 46 seconds slower. I say "only" because I think I've run fewer than 12 times since Dec. 6. If I ever manage to get serious, I may be able to compete again. We'll see.

The rest of the day is Super Bowl day (basking in the glory and the knowledge that I'm the best 40-44 male Davis has to offer).

Out.

The week that was and still is.

I've been wondering when a week begins and ends. Oddly enough, I've (in recent years) have always summed up weekly miles beginning on Saturday. This was a function of some on-line site I started using in Oct. 2000 (winningstats.com)...wonder if the site is still there.

But the weekend is the END right? So should I sum from Monday? In the end, who gives a
damn; we're not talking about big numbers here and nobody is going to get hurt.

So summing from Saturday:
7-Sat (Davis Ag roads)
10-Sun (Davis Ag roads)
7-Tues. (Davis Ag roads)
7-Thurs. (N. Davis/Central)
4-Friday (ran the first two w/Arlen; S. Davis)

35 for week. All slow miles except for some non-slow stuff here and there.

On Thursday, signed up for a 10K that I'll run tomorrow. Why? Hell if I know.

I like races though oddly, I'm in no shape to race. So I guess I'll jog it....me and my
boiler bouncing along the way. It's the Davis Stampede 5k/10K/Half. Thought originally I'd sign up for the half but then said: wtf. Glad I didn't. So here I'm sitting next to my lovely wife (who...conincidentally cooked the best salmon meal I've ever had tonight) writing
these hollow words (hollow because no one reads this shit). But that's ok. Right now, I feel at peace for some reason. No worries about the 10K. I have a prediction though. I think that at best can run 6:56 mpm. More realistic is 7 mpm. That's kind of sad. If I ever really ran seriously again, I know I can still do sub-6 for 10K.

But that's irrelevant thinking...now isn't it?

Wish me luck readers.

Window Shopping

I am searching for a marathon to run. My original idea of the Newport Marathon won't work out it seems. I'm not in shape to run anything before June and July is kind of all booked up. Wonder if my erstwhile Interloopers are running St. George again(?).

Did it (almost)

I promised a 5:30 awakening; it was closer to 5:52. I'm not ready for track workouts or intervals. Just too tired. Had about 1.5 hours sleep prior to run. Not good. Ran 7.25@7:41 pace or so. Last 3 miles were under 7:20 pace. Slow...I know. But at least I'm out the door.

Listened to Beatles/GH. Wondered about running alone and thought about where my old friends have gone. Early in the morning, in the dark, and without sleep, makes things clearer sometimes.

Then again, I might just be bitter for waking up so freaking early.

My friend Manny Katsanis had this posted on The Interloopers' site. It
seems fitting to me. I need to get back to that place. Not drinking tonight with a goal of
awaking at 5:30 for a run (5:30 AM)!


“Nous igeiis en somati igeis” (Greek)
(prerequisite for a healthy mind is a healthy body)

Sunday Run

Yesterday: first "double-digit" run since CIM. 10 the slow-way through the Davis farm fields. Enjoyable to be out on a beautiful January day but am worried about a mass on my knee that hurts. Can I run through it?

Listened to the Beatles/George Harrison during run. Thought a lot about the song "Blow Away" by George.

Drinking martinis the night before these runs is not conducive to being a runner. Makes me wonder who I want to be: drinker or runner.