Crazy Week

So much for one diary entry per day. I thought about going back and post dating a bunch of entries, but it's been too long and I don't feel like it.

Instead, I'll just start with today and maybe publish multiple posts today and over the weekend to catch up.

When was my last entry? Friday? I ran 880 intervals on the Maranatha oval and did a circuit workout at the gym.

In didn't workout at all on Saturday. I can't remember why, exactly, but I think I just let the day get away from me thanks to the NCAA basketball tournament and yardwork getting in the way. I remember eating poorly and just not feeling up for even a light run at the end of the day after the temperature had cooled off. Joan and the kids had gone to Henderson for a quick visit, so I had the house to myself. It should have been a good day for a moderate run, but I blew it off.

I got the week's final run in on Sunday afternoon, taking an easy pace jaunt over some of the trails I'd been meaning to explore between 4S Ranch and Del Sur. I found a good route through the undeveloped portion of Del Sur that crosses Lusardi Creek, connecting with the Lusardi Creek Loop Trail in the Black Mountain Open Space area. I managed about 9 and half miles, though I did wind up walking the long hill up to the community park. I'm on an alternating high mileage/low mileage pattern during this 6-week phase, and Sunday finished up a low mileage week. No 20+ miler.

Monday was a no-workout day too, which, along with Saturday, bookended the Sunday run. At this point I was starting to worry about losing my rhythm and momentum. It wasn't supposed to have been an off day, but Joan had a scheduled hospital visit coming up on Tuesday for some surgery, and with work demands, I just couldn't fit it in. I had a notion to go for a night run, but just didn't.

I took Tuesday off from work and spent the day with Joan at Mary Birch Hospital for Women. It was a little nerve racking, but the operation went well and Joan's recovery sure seemed spirited. I couldn't spend the night there, so we said our good nights and I took the kids home. I wound up doing a pair of easy 5K laps around the neighborhood after the kids had gone to bed. Very peaceful and relaxing. I felt totally fresh.

I wound up not going to work on Wednesday either as I waited with Joan and the hospital for her discharge. We finally got her home around 3 in the afternoon and I decided it was too late to make an effort to get to work, so after getting her set up and picking kids up from school, I went out for a pre-supper run through the hills of Black Mountain. Maybe I was inspired by "Born to Run," but I took an unconventional trail run up some difficult, scree-sprewn trails that felt like they were sometimes straight up and down. I've hiked the East Rim, Nighthawk and Miner's Loop trails before, but never tried to jog them. It was 6.5 miles in all, but it took me over an hour to finish. Who was it who said hill work is speedwork in disguise? It was definitely hard, and even though going up the steepest parts could hardly be called running, my heart rate was 95% max just scrambling. It was fun. I just had to be very careful about not twisting an ankle.

Back to work on Thursday, which with the pileup in email and assignments, left no time for the scheduled gym workout. So, as on Tuesday, I left it to a late night run around the neighborhood. Again, I did the double 5K route, planning on just taking it easy. That didn't last. I felt so good and strong, I couldn't help but compete with myself. I pressed on the 2nd lap to 'beat my time' on the 1st lap, and wound up running a 47:30 10K without really even taxing myself. That was a shock. Had I not loafed on the first lap, I'm pretty sure I would have broken 46 minutes. I'm not sure, but that 45 minute 10K time goal might actually be within grasp.

Or maybe not. I have to verify the distance. But something's different. I can feel it. I feel strong. While I was thinking that the mileage reduction and the unplanned schedule cut back of this week might be problematic, maybe it's actually benefited me and allowed my body to repair and improve.

The proof will be in the weekend pudding, since this is a 20+ miler weekend. My plan is boring but pragmatic. Rather than an excursion that takes me far away, I'm going to run a series of loops near home that'll bring me by the house every 6 miles or so. Since Joan can't drive and will be home alone, that'll allow me an escape exit from the run should she need me; or if something should happen to me she won't have to send out the hounds far afield to find me. It'll also make run support easier since I won't have to stash water or plan my pit stops. I'm going to shoot for 21-22 miles. If I can work in an easy or pace run of 3-5 miles today, the long run will amount to almost 50% of my weekly mileage. That isn't optimum, I know, but what else can I do?

Weekend after next is the Carlsbad 5000, so this has to be my LSD weekend.

And that's it. Back up to date.