Enough of it, lets run.

Would you look at those eyes...You can bet, I had plenty of time doing nothing and shooting pictures, experimenting with cooking and trying to rearrange things in the house. Almost like a vaction, but with guilty feeling of loosing precious time on not running and a few events looming very close on horizon.


I actually liked been sick at home:)

Kids and cats
I sent my registration in for Grand Teton, so the crazy idea of CCC100/GT100 is on. Rob and Steve, are you boys on for pacing at Cascade Crest? Kind of wonder how to split my effort so first 100 goes somewhat OK (as in race B, with hopes of 26 hrs) and second had still enough left in me to finish (and would be nice if in 32 hrs). I saw a free 50k on Maniac's calendar on June 21 where Rob is going and would like to be there as well. I'll see how it pans out.

I added enthusiasm to my 1:40 cross-training on Friday, but on Saturday decided to go run. Enough already! I need my fix! No wonder running is considered to be an addiction, not a hobby. Tryon park was wonderful, shady and hilly as always, and I moved my feet with short steps (and short breaths). It was fine, slow, but no walk breaks. I felt waisted afterwords though, 7 miles - and I was asleep on my couch for half an hour:)
Sunday morning was much better, less painful and faster. I did roads and even timed myself, and surprisingly hit both out and back routes in my usual splits "on a good day" type of thing (not on "perfect", but I was happy). And it didn't take anything out of me! Hopefully slowly and surely I'll progress next week to more miles and faster runs, but I intend to take my time. I have somebody looking into my "training" (if I can call it this way since June) and see if I can be helped with getting some fast twitch muscle back. I am in no rush for this, and I understand it'll be hard to build proper workouts around my long adventures, but it's worth a try. I need somebody to be accountable to, or I slide into "run for pleasure" mode more often than allowed, especially once the goal race is behind. Now is a good time to focus on something again, and something different will be interesting, and I am scared, but willing.

After Sunday's morning run
Next month, yet again, is full of following big races on webcast and getting excited and inspsired by all the runners. I'll keep everyone updated on when is what and who is where:)
Alex got a job, even two (one at
No Ivy League working outside Mon-Fri and one at local car wash for the weekends). Lets see if he can hold on to what his parents helped him to catch and whether he is independant enough to tackle it. Next week is his last one as a volunteer at OHSU lab filing papers (pretty boring, but much useful for resume). Stephen is visiting with various Russian day camps 3 times a week and goes to work with us other days. I begin back to my full time position (after slacking for 18 months) next Monday. Dinners will be quite boring from now on, and second runs are hectic to squeeze in, not to mention those boxing classes to drive to...normal life that I can't say I missed much, but additional income sure helps with the bills. My sister is doing pretty well and next week might be released home to my parents' house. That's for sure is the best news in it's own right! She sounds so much better.
I've picked up a bunch of Men's Muscle (or something) magazines and after reading them while on my couch break came up with some wishful thinking on how to get stronger (and slimmer). Don't know how long this'll last...Julie, come over and keep me honest here! I get bored rather easily with anything but trail running. My bad. Need to switch my mind and get focused. Goals don't happen by themselves, right?
I am back and kicking dust...June was my lowest month in terms of miles (with a mere 216 of it) and after doing 350 for 3 months in a raw it feels as such a set-back. No complaining, just get out there and run!