WTF

I know better than to throw back a few cocktails and then try and go running the next day.
That may be why I felt stupid this morning sucking down Gatorade and Tylenol prior to lacing up my shoes to run roughly eight miles.
The good news it that it seemed to work! Do I smell an endorsement deal?
I can picture the commercials:
Me. Sleeping. Drooling.
The alarm buzzes! I wince and grab my head.
I go for the Gatorade & Tylenol as the theme song from Indiana Jones plays loudly.
Cut to me heading out the door all decked out in my running gear.
I fake out the audience by pretending to be affected by the brightness of the sun, but then I mug to the camera and give a thumbs-up with a smile before hopping down the steps from my door.
The end.

I could be a Coppola.

In reality, it was stupid and I lie in bed for awhile after my alarm went off debating if I was feeling up to it this morning. I bit the bullet and went anyway, greeted by gale force winds and a nagging soreness in my calf.
At least I got through it.

Frozen Assets

The rule of thumb is that if the weather is zero degrees or the wind chill dips below -20, then group training outdoors will be cancelled.
This Saturday was kind enough to deliver such sub-zero temperature and wind chill.
I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I was absolutely greatful not to have to run in those conditions. On the other hand, that meant I had to make up the workout another way.
Instead of freezing outdoors, I elected to go to a Bikram Yoga class on Saturday. The room was a humid 105 degrees and the light-headedness I experienced allowed me to pretend that I was actually drunk in some kind of strange tropical resort rather than living on a tundra for the day.
Today I ran six miles on a treadmill just to get the gears moving. I think this weekend actually did me some good. Instead of running on tense muscles from the cold, I got to stretch them out really well.
Well, we'll see how it goes next week.

Not Too Shabby

I've been frustrated with running lately.
It's getting harder and injuries are becoming more of a threat as the distances get longer and the temperature keeps dropping.

Have you ever had someone work on you hip rotator?
I have no pride left.

All in all, looking back on my previous posts, its not too shabby.

Last October I got drunk and made a decision. Very few good stories begin with those words. Most end with ". . . and thats how I landed myself in jail with one shoe and no pants."

But its true.

When I resolved to run a marathon and document the process I was not in a right frame of mind - kinda like the guy who spent a over decade among grizzly bears.

Some people might say that the drunky-pants factor explains a lot. I would agree with them, but not for that reason.

Its Go Time By: "Dr. Seuess"

Today is the day.
Today is the day I signed my life away.
Today is the day I signed my life away I say with dismay.

The papers are in.
The papers are in 'cuz its about to begin.
The papers are in 'cuz its about to begin I say with a grim. [sic]

I'm short on the dough.
I'm short on the dough I need to get mo'.
I'm short on the dough, I need to get mo' or I'm screwed fo sho.

Oh will you, oh won't you help me please.
I've begged and pleaded; I'm on my knees.
I've even filled this post with cheese.

Perhaps you've guessed it rightly.
Perhaps you've made the inference.
For if my cauffer ain't full by spring,
I have to pay the difference.

www.active.com/donate/tntil/JHanra

Oww.

I'm sure one day I'll be one of those people who are so adapted to running that their range of motion is not affacted after going ten miles.

Today is not that day.

May I relate to you how cold it is -- and windy!
I feel a bit stoned, though I'm not.

I ate a big breakfast (more like brunch), though I suspect I'll just be hungry again in an hour.

My hip rotator has taken a beating. I desperately want to take a long, hot shower but cannot until the hip is iced.

I don't have anything profound to write - I just want to whine.

Whose idea was this, anyway?

Just Laugh

Today was cold, damnit! Cold, gray, and windy.
I had my tunes, which was good. I was sure to remove the emo from the shuffle, which I normally enjoy, but not while running. Bruce got us dancin' in the dark to start.
A had a pace partner, which was swell considering last week.
I had new shoes! I didn't realize what a beating my old pair took until I tried some new ones (athough now my pinky toes look very angry with me.)
I don't know which was funnier: passing by a park where a woman and her golden retriever were taking turns going down a spiral kiddie slide or the random woman runner dressed as Super Girl - cape and all.
No, I'm not making this up.
Needless to say, the runs are getting a bit easier and far more entertaining.

It Burns Us!

(Whine, whine, whine.)
Poor little runner. Why does it cry?
Nasty power gel hurts us.
Of course it does, precious.
We can't eats it. It burns us!



Okay -- I was bored.