For the Love of Snagglepuss...Slow Down!

Oops--ticked off a fellow runner at the gym last week. This guy who runs about the same time as I do in the morning likes to run really, really fast. The problem is--he's too fast for his own legs--he can't keep up the pace and is constantly propping himself up against the handrails and stomping against the metal protective barrier at the top of the treadmill--panting, sweating, and looking as if he's about to face-plant against whirling rubber. I kept quiet for about 3 weeks, thinking one of the trainers would eventually say something. I couldn't take it anymore. "Ya might wanna take it down a notch, buddy", just sort of slipped out. Oops.

I haven't seen him at the gym since, but that doesn't mean anything really. He didn't really respond--just gave me a look that pretty much said "Shut up and mind your own business". Fair enough, fair enough.

Running updates: Made it successfully through two 8 mile runs. I had to readjust my schedule a bit through the holidays. I still completed all the mileage, just had to move days around here and there. I finished my first 9 mile long-run yesterday evening. I was planning on doing my first outdoor run in quite awhile, but didn't get the time until late in the day, so the gym it was.

Cory and I took a much needed "mini vacation" to Port Townsend Saturday night. We stayed in a cute little hotel with a fantastic view of th Strait of Juan De Fuca. We wound up with some fantastic pictures--I'll try to post a few here. It was a beautiful, sunny winter day. We tried to head home early enough to get a run in during daylight hours, but as we approached the Hood Canal Bridge (really the only option for getting home with the changes in ferry service recently), it had been closed down for "Police Activity". Turns out there was a 'suspicious backpack' left on the bridge so they closed it off to traffic and called in the bomb squad. No, I'm not kidding. We turned around and went back to Port Townsend for lunch. We never found out what was in the backpack, but I was imagining something silly like a sack full of origami flowers or little plastic figurines.

The last few weeks have been very tiring--lots going on, and things are finally slowing down a bit, so hopefully I'll get a chance to post a little more often. I'm havig a hard time remembering the things I wanted to mention--all in all, the runnig is going well. My legs were aching most of the morning after yesterday's run, but no major pain to report or anything I'm concerned about. I'm getting to the point where the length of my daily runs are about where they will remain throughout the rest of my training. What will continue to increase is the length of my long run. That's a good feeling. It encourages me mentally--I know I can continue with this schedule.

...and speaking of encouraging me mentally--Cory has been so supportive, curious, and helps keep me moving towards my goal. I must give a shout-out for that. My schedule can be a little crazy sometimes. Thanks to everyone who keeps me going!

I have been getting up a tad earlier than I was just to get in the couple extra miles some mornngs, but I am sleeping much better (especially the last week) than I have in a really long time. I am tired by 9pm--in bed no later than 10.

Speaking of...it's 'late'. Almost 9:30 and time to start heading towards home. Cory and I are at Cafe' Ladro catching up on e-mails and reading. We just got back from a book signing/ talk by Anu Garg--the creator of Wordsmith.org. Cory can fill you in on the details--but it was a long awaited meeting for him. Not to mention a really fantastic presentation!

Sleep calls.