Fall Floods

Here on the Wet Coast, Fall is not so much a 'feeling' in the air as a splash of cold water in the face if you venture outside.  After a week of weather where it was so hot and humid that I had to break down and buy a fan so I could sleep at night, I now may have to go and follow up that purchase with one of a space heater!    It's still humid, but of the falling out of the clouds kind.  And yesterday, as I walked my dogs, I could see my breath for the better part of an hour.  And it's still August!

The cold and damp have my knee aching and it seems pretty clear to me that Long Beach is going to be a stop-gap marathon until say, maybe Sacramento at least.    My Boston qualifier has slid far down my list of life's priorities as I juggle work projects and family obligations.  Having been to Boston  twice there is no longer the sense of urgency that there was was.  Now, I can even entertain the idea of going to Boston as a spectator, there to enjoy the atmosphere and cheer on fellow marathoners who have attained their goals of qualifying.  

Don't get me wrong, I still want to race Boston, it's just that doing so has to fit it with all the rest of my life.

Still, as September fast approaches, I find myself asking, 'Where did the summer go?!'

Okay, I am procrastinating now.  Time to get back to the book....

More Miles

We ran 27 miles yesterday and for me at least, it was one of the best long runs we'd done this summer.  My right knee was still aching and at 13 miles we detoured into a 7-11 for some Gatorade and a little Motrin.  Thirty minutes later I was as right as rain.  The temperature was in the mid-70's and the humidity was fairly high.  

But the five of us all hydrated conscientiously along the way and made sure we were well-fueled as well.  We've taken Gatorade pit stops on the last few long runs that have approached marathon distance and it seems to have made a difference, at least for me.  Of course I don't discount that the benefits may be simply psychological.

At a few places we have been able to add ice to our water bottles, and my word, what a luxurious treat that has been.  Ice water tastes so good that it is hard to believe that it doesn't have any calories!  Positively sinful!

Any time you run for five or more hours in hot temps it's nice to have good company.  And the last few runs have been really enjoyable.

Here's hoping the knee is getting better.

Dog Days of Summer

I love my bed. At 6:45 am this is the only coherent thought I am able to muster.  That and I don't want to get out of bed.  Don't even want to move. Moving is misery. Lying in one spot I am comfortable, cocooned in cushiony softness, every muscle and joint cradled and caressed.  The effort required to move is an immediate mistake.  

I haven't posted in nearly two weeks because I have been pinned down in front of my computer screen like a dog-faced infantryman in a foxhole.  I am working on a September 1 writing deadline that has me sitting in front of the magical iMac for ten, twelve and even fourteen hours at a stretch. On Sunday we were supposed to run 25 miles but relented after 23.5 in heat that approached 80 degrees and humidity that went over it.  My life is conspiring against me.  Did I mention that I don't want to get out of bed?

Every injury it seems I have ever had is making itself felt.  Or at least the ones that required cutting and stitching.  As I shift my bones I feel every mile run this past month, feel every hour spent slouched in from of my computer screen.  Neck and lower back creak and moan, hip bones and shoulder joints whine and commiserate, and my knee, even the knee that has never given me a lick of trouble has nothing good to say this morning.

But dogs have to be walked, caffeine addictions satiated and deadlines honoured.  

I am labouring away towards Labour Day.

Lucky 8's

I guess if I was Chinese, or a gambler, I'd be a little more enamored about turning forty-eight on 08/08/08.  But, as it is, I have to figure I'm pretty lucky, both blessed and fortunate in the grand scheme of things.

I ran the Totem to Totem Marathon in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii on July 26.  I even managed to mock up some pretty nice marathon gear and a couple of nice marathon graphic designs - if I don't mind saying so myself!

I finished my 25th marathon in 4:45:00, cruising through the course with an average heart rate of 138, or 63% of my MHR.

This past Saturday, I was MCing the wedding reception of one of my closest and dearest friends, and rather than attempt an early morning Sunday effort I went out on Saturday for 37K.  We did it in 4:05 and my average heart rate was 128, which I was very pleased with.

But my right knee is a little inflames and achey, so I have decided to pass on the Stormy 50 Mile Ultramarathon Trail Race coming up this weekend.  I hate to end a streak, but I have to think of the bigger goal this october, which is to re-qualify for Boston.

My weight has kind of leveled out at 196 and fluctuates up and down a couple of pounds.   I'll have to focus on getting down to the 190 level next.

August will be about running, running and more running.  Oh, and all that pure living I preach...

Would be great to exit the month around a 185 pounds.