Biorhythms? Planets?

There are days when I'm quite certain that the phenomena of biorhythms and planet alignments are part of our reality. This is one of those days.

• Woke up at 4 a.m. and was unable to go back to sleep. Another night of 6 hours of sleep. Those nights are becoming much too frequent. I think it has a lot to do with a busy brain....so many loose ends to tie up, so little time.
• Left for my run at 7 a.m. (after recalculating the pickup points through Michigan based on the re-mapping of Wisconsin and the change from running over the Mackinac Bridge to running around Mackinac Island). My feet/heels/achilles were very stiff, my knees were sore, my stomach was queasy, my head hurt. Just a guess, but I'm thinking this body rebellion was due to a combination of allergies, fatigue, not enough protein, too much fiber, and heat. In any case, it was a very slow run with a lot of walking.
• The first part of my run ended at my dermatologist's office. I am a fair-skinned, freckled, black-haired, northern European descendant. The sun wreaks havoc on my skin. Thus I'm in for skin checks every 6 months. At my last check (5 weeks ago) the doctor prescribed a topical chemotherapy cream to get rid of precancerous spots on my face and hands. I went through this treatment about 5 years ago and it was quite unpleasant as it involved two weeks of applying the cream and watching/feeling my skin burn off. The good news at this most recent visit was that the doc said they had good success with applying the cream for only one week vs. two. So apply it I did for a week - and it wasn't so horrible...sort of like a bad sunburn. Today's follow-up appointment wasn't such good news. The treatment didn't take care of everything so I have to go through it again - starting today in order to be done with it (it takes a few weeks to heal) before I start The Run. So, another few weeks of a sore, red, splotchy face and feeling yucky.
  
• The second part of my run was the return trip from the dermatologist's office. The creakiness wasn't quite so bad as the first run, but the queasiness and fatigue were still going strong and I was very much looking forward to getting home. As I neared our neighborhood a thunderstorm blew up right over the flatirons (along the west side of town - the side of town I was running in). Now that put some fire under my feet!

Upon reaching home, my dog came bounding up, smiling and holding his frisbee. Nothing like playing frisbee with the pooch to brighten the day. And it's spring cleanup season (the city comes around and picks up branches, etc. that you leave by the curb) so I hauled a bunch of branches to the curb. Nothing like a bit of manual labor to cleanse the soul. Once inside the house, I laid on the floor and did a half-hour of static stretches with my legs up on a stool in various positions. I really should make that a mandatory daily exercise; it's astounding how well it loosens the body from the spine on down to the feet. Then I fixed a huge tuna fish sandwich (satisfying the stomach) and a cafe latte (satisfying the headache). As I ate, I soaked my feet in ice water for a thoroughly refreshing experience. And as I ate and soaked I read the paper and saw that Mason Crosby (one of my favorite CU players, a kicker) got drafted by the Green Bay Packers (my second most favorite NFL team). The planets appear to be synching back up...

Race Surprise

The Boulder Distance Carnival was held today and Joe, AndyE, and I all signed up for the 15k option. Yesterday I had a preposterously slow run where I seemed incapable of moving at anything faster than an aged snail's pace and was achy creaky all day. Consequently, I was not expecting much out of today's race - and, in fact, was looking at it as just a run in a lovely setting for a good cause. We all three agreed to go out conservatively and simply enjoy ourselves, thinking a 10 mpm pace would be quite acceptable.

So! Imagine my surprise when I found myself chomping at the bit to go at a quicker pace early in the first mile. I tried to contain myself but eventually turned to the guys and said "I'm gonna see what I've got in me today." and they both said go for it. My plan was to run very comfortably the first 5k, pick it up just a skosh the second 5k, then see how fast I could go for the last 5k. The plan worked out quite well with 5k splits of: 29:58, 58:45, 86:08. The whole last 5k I kept telling myself I may not be fast, but I sure am strong right now - so go for it! Overall, a 9:15 pace with a last 5k around 8:50 pace. After so much slow running, this was quite the unexpected treat!

Reason for The Run

Running buddy Joe said today (and I undoubtedly slightly misquote): "This run of yours is the most extreme excuse for getting out of speed work I've ever heard of."

Give me a 1447 mile run over a 5k any day!

Running errands

It's getting to be that stage of the project (i.e., preparing for The Run) where a whole lotta loose ends need tying up. And, seeing as how this is an easy week (every 4th week, only 50-60 miles), I figured "running errands" would be a good way to get the day's mileage in.

First, however, Joe and I went for a run on a hilly fartlek loop I've been running for years - a bit of Bolder Boulder prep donchaknow. That put 7 miles in the log.
Then I set off on my errands: errand #1, 3 miles; errand #2, 1 mile; errand #3, 2 miles.
...Now I've got 13 miles under my belt for the day.
......Leaving only 12.5 miles until I meet my 60-mile quota.

And tomorrow I'm meeting the gang at Teller Farms for our first run out there since the snow started to fly back in December; that will give me another 10 miles or so.
And Sunday is the Boulder Distance Carnival; I'm registered for the 15k race.

Since when did it become a challenge to keep my weekly mileage under 60?!

Markers

Four months ago yesterday, my dad died. Six weeks from yesterday, I leave on The Run. I'm still not reconciled to not having my dad around to talk to about all this and, especially, to talk to while I'm on the road. However! I very much wanted to have something of his with me while running and today a package arrived from my mom.

Pop was an avid golfer - from his teen years as a caddy until he was 90 (when he wasn't able to walk the course any longer and he refused to rent a cart). And I've been thinking of ways to mark my stopping/starting points - such as sidewalk chalk, ribbon, recording the gps coordinates... And it came to me! I could mark my stopping/starting point with the little markers that golfers use to mark their ball placement on the green - specifically the little markers that were still hanging out in dad's golf bag and jackets. The package I opened today was filled with those little markers and golf tees - which would also work beautifully for marking my place. There were even the two silver markers, engraved with his initials, that I had sent to him many moons ago. I think I'll save those for special days - perhaps the first day and while in Michigan.

Now a bit of Pop's obsession will be with me as I indulge in my obsession. It feels good.

Wormorama

It's raining today. All day. All last night too. Had to avoid trails since they had become streams. Had to approach underpasses with care since some were flooded out. And had to especially watch out for worms. They were everywhere, squiggling hither and thither across the bike paths searching for safe havens of undrenched dirt.

The people...

Today, while sitting in my ice bath, Elton John's "Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters" was playing on the radio. When he sang out "I thank the Lord for the people I have found" I was humbled - realizing I would be nothing if not for the people who have been part of my life.

• My folks who gave me all the ingredients (genetics and nurturing) to become the person I am today.
  
• My college buddies (one of whom was a huge Elton John fan which is why I even slowed my brain down enough today to listen to this song) who helped this small town girl to spread her wings and fly.
  
• My husband and his family who have always always cheered me on in my endeavors.
  
• My grad school buddies who helped me hone my balancing act of seriousness and fun.
  
• My first "career" boss who guided me into the professional world while allowing me to remain true to myself.
• My coworkers who helped me achieve what modicum of success I had during my career.
• And the whole host of running buddies and friends who are helping me today to achieve this dream of mine.

Thank you all.

Another 30 mile run and 100 mile week in the books

Saturday brought another 30 mile run done in three 2-hour segments much like last Saturday. In fact, the first 4 hours were identical to last Saturday's: 2:00:00 solo ending up at Coal Creek golf course to meet Joe who accompanied me on the second 2-hour segment (out/back on the Coal Creek trail...just a tad further out than last Saturday). I was starting to drag towards the end of this portion so I told Joe (lucky dude) that he had to come up with a long convoluted narrative to distract me with the last half-hour or so. He filled the bill admirably with the tale of his daughter's wedding in Mexico (which he described as a series of disasters and miracles - all ending very happily).

The third 2-hour segment, however, was completely different than last week's. This time, instead of completing the 30-mile run with two hours on asphalt and dirt, I ran toward Denver primarily on concrete and asphalt. Let me tell you, this is a tough way to finish a six hour 30-mile run. Yowch! I am definitely going to have to look into those insoles that Dean K was telling me about for extra cushion. I had two very tired and achey feet by the end of the run. Also, this week my stomach was quite a bit queasier than last week - perhaps due to attempting to subsist entirely on a G-cubed diet (gu, gumdrops, and gatorade). Last week I threw in a couple of mini Clif bars. Unfortunately, this week I threw in a Clif bar which, when I opened it, looked a little odd so I checked the expiration date and discovered I should have eaten it well over a year ago. Ah well, into the trash it went. The result: by 5 hours into the run, I was unable to face another gu or gumdrop and had visions of bakery rolls dancing through my head. Real Food, I say! Give me Real Food! And Real Food was mine, shortly after Kendall picked me up - almost at the right rendezvous place, no less! (We have to work a bit on our synchronicity before the Real Run. ;-) )

The unpredicatable pep meter

Wednesday I was dragging. In fact, as I was in the last couple of miles of my morning run I slowed to a walk for a few minutes. It was just then that coach Mark surprised me as he came up on my shoulder. He was so surprised to see me walking he stopped his run to chat a bit to make sure I was doing ok. I think a lot of my tiredness on that run had to do with not enough eating the day before and not enough sleeping during the week. So, when I got home, I made sure I followed a solid stretching, icing, and eating regimen. Wednesday late afternoon, I went out to join Joe in his tempo run. This week was much like last week as far as the Joe Tempo Run goes: run to meet Joe, run Joe's warm up with him, get to where the tempo starts, and watch Joe take off into the sunset. It gets me to run a tad faster than I would normally, but I'm not exactly running speedily. After the run, I was once again a Very Good Girl with the stretching, icing , and eating routine.

This Thursday also went much like last Thursday. Leave the house early to meet the Boulder Road Runners for their Thursday morning workout. Last week it was 2x10 minute tempo; this week it was 3x6 minute tempo - and both weeks I stayed right with my running buddy Patti with no problem - much to my surprise. Thursday afternoon's run was also on the brisk side and I was not the boat anchor on this morning's run with AndyE and Joe. It would be good to analyze where the peppiness comes from - I'm going to need a whole lot of it this summer! One thing is for sure: icing+stretching+eating is a good thing. Sleeping should also be on that list!

Tomorrow: another 30 mile run. The first ~22 miles will be like last week: a couple hours on my own swinging east, north, east and south to meet up with Joe in a neighboring town, then Joe will accompany me for a couple of hours out/back on a trail. The next/last bit is yet to be determined. I like variety and am hoping I can figure out a different route back home or to a rendezvous point with Kendall. In any case, it'll be fun to get another 30-miler under my belt.

Bridge Crossing

(Photo from the Mackinac Bridge Authority web site)

The Mackinac Bridge is quite magnificent. I admire it both for its design and for the effort it took to build it - joining the two peninsulas of Michigan over the wild waters of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Five miles long and with a total suspension of 8,614 feet, it is the third longest suspension bridge in the world - surpassed only by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan and The Great Belt Bridge in Halsskov-Sprogoe, Denmark, both of which opened in 1998. The Mackinac Bridge, however, will be holding its 50th anniversary celebration the day I am scheduled to arrive at the north side of the bridge. (For more info about the bridge, go to www.mackinacbridge.org)

I called the Mackinac Bridge Authority yesterday to followup on a letter I had sent in late February requesting permission to run across the bridge since it offers the only roadway connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. I will be approaching Petoskey via the south shore of the Upper Peninsula - and Petoskey lies about 35 miles south of the upper tip of the Lower Peninsula. The bridge would come in very handy as I approach the final miles of my journey. The catch is, the Mackinac Bridge Authority allows foot traffic only on Memorial Day (for a Memorial Bridge Run) and Labor Day (for its annual Bridge Walk). But I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. And it didn't. I got a call back today and the Bridge Authority says No Exceptions...no foot traffic. Ah well, there was no pain involved with the rejected request, just disappointment. So! Time for Plan B.

Plan B is not too terrible.

• I catch a ferry from St. Ignace (the town on the north side of the bridge).
  
• I take the ferry to Mackinac Island - one of my most favorite places on earth (see www.mackinac.com).
  
• I run around the perimeter of the island (8.3 miles). (No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island so it will just be me running amidst fellow pedestrians and bicyclists, horseback riders, and horse-drawn carriages and wagons.)
  
• Then I catch a ferry from the island to Mackinaw City (the town on the south side of the bridge).

It will take a little longer - but it will certainly offer a delightful change of pace (so to speak)!

Desk job

After my morning run (2.5 hours, including hill drills with AndyE) and a bit of stretching, I sat down in front of the computer and there I stayed for the next 7 hours. It was a long, tiring day but fruitful. The big effort was putting together emails for Departments of Transportation describing what I'm going to be doing this summer and, in particular, the routes I plan on following through the individual states. Emails got sent to Colorado, Nebraska (3 different districts/3 different emails), Iowa and Minnesota - and - I've already received responses back from two of Nebraska's districts. And what excellent responses they were - describing levels of traffic, the types of traffic (i.e., farm traffic, commuter traffic, main passageways to Canada, etc.), whether there is shoulder and what kind of shoulder, construction possibilities, etc. Great stuff. In one case, an alternate route was advised so I'm now corresponding back and forth about options. Well worth the Day at the Desk.

Another reason why the desk day was, hopefully, worthwhile: I slept like crap last night. I think the arrival of the motor home in our driveway has driven home the reality of all of this - and all the stuff that is yet to be completed. Thinking of all that stuff is not a restful activity at 2 a.m. Perhaps the progress with the DOTs will help ease my mind.

So, a lot got done. A lot also didn't get done: my second run of the day, icing, lunch, strength work, a trip to the pharmacy, some social security stuff for my son (somehow they don't have his social security number in relation to a job he had - I can't quite figure that out), washing the floors, reading today's newspaper, transcribing the most current Wisconsin route into a day-by-day ledger with route description and GPS coordinates for pickup points (which I need to do before I can write to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation districts - another state where I run through 3 districts)....yada yada yada. Good thing I didn't want to be bored while retired.

The support vehicle has landed!

Look what we brought home today!

I'd best be getting ready to run, eh?!

Check point

I thought it might be good to take a look at where my training stands to-date, seeing as how The Run will be starting just 7 weeks and 3 days from now.

First, the totals from this past week: 121 miles including one 31-mile day broken into 4 runs, and one 30-mile day in one run. (30 is a key number since The Run will consist of six 30-mile days per week.)

As for this entire training cycle, I've run 2956.5 miles since I retired on July 28, 2006 (which is when I was able to start training full-time for this).

Prior to beginning this endeavor, I'd never run more than 60-65 miles per week (and that was rare). Since July 28th, my running has included:

• 70-79 mile weeks: 9 times
• 80-89 mile weeks: 7 times
• 90-99 mile weeks: 4 times
• Over 100 miles/week: 7 times with a high of 157 miles
• seven 30-mile days (including 4 consecutive 30-mile days the week I ran 157 miles total) and two 26.2 mile days (marathons)
  
• six zero-mile days - two of which were last August (one garage sale day, three due to all-day travel via train or plane, one planned day off the 157-mile week, and one the day my dad died)
• non rest weeks (weeks of over 60 miles per week) include two runs per day, with typically over 3 hours of running per day
• 13 pairs of Brooks Adrenaline (I've worn out 8 pair and have 5 pair currently in rotation).

My challenges continue to be:

• eating properly between the first and second runs of the day but I've made good progress on finding nutritious and palatable foods for those between-run-meals (soup, rice, eggs, sweet potato, fig bars, banana)
• managing my time so I fit in stretching and icing after both runs (but the incentive seems to be increasing as my legs really scream when I don't ice or stretch - I do have a pretty good stretching routine worked out now that seems to be quite effective when I make the time for it)
• sleeping: I've yet to get into the rhythm of napping during the day, and still need to work on getting enough sleep at night (7 hours seems to be what I most commonly achieve and that's just not enough)

The running training regimen is getting close to winding down. All I have left now is:

• upcoming weekly mileage of: 100, 60 (rest week), 120, 100, taper starts: 80, 60, 30
• each week other than the 60- and 30-mile weeks will include a 30-mile day; the 120-mile week will have two 30-mile days.

I am astounded by how close The Run is - and by how different a runner I am today than I was just 8 months ago.

2 x 3

Another new milestone today: I ran 30 miles in one run.
I had a 30-mile day scheduled and after spending many days this week sitting around in my running gear while at the Conference on World Affairs (after running there, then running during and after), I really wanted a day where I ran then was done, showered, and in clean clothes.
I was curious how the run would turn out... It was fantastic! It worked out to be three lovely two-hour segments:

1. I left my house at 6 a.m. setting off in a quiet cool morning, running northeast through Boulder, then east out of town and circling around back south to the neighboring town of Louisville where I was to meet Joe. I arrived at our rendezvous point with exactly 2:00:00 showing on my watch and there was smiling Joe - offering gatorade refills, a place to stash a layer of clothes and the surprising and welcome news that he was up for running two hours with me!
2. Joe and I ran out/back on a creek-side trail under a brilliant blue sky - with Joe setting a very reasonable pace and providing excellent company. Today's picture is from the top of a hill along the trail looking west to Boulder, the flatirons and the snow-capped Continental Divide. (I may need to start carrying a real camera; my camera phone doesn't do it justice.) 'Twas a simply gorgeous morning. We made it back to our original starting point with 4:02 on my watch.
   
3. The final segment sent me on trails, dirt roads, more trails and a country road back to Boulder. After the last trail, just as I was starting on the last stretch of road into town, Kendall arrived on his bike to provide moral support and conversation. (I was feeling pretty good - but my conversational skills by that point were reduced mostly to grunts.) The highlight of this stretch (besides Kendall) was a bald eagle soaring in circles overhead for most of the time I was on the last trail, its white head glowing in the Colorado sunshine. Final time: 6:06
   

Overall, a grand run - and a great experiment. For the first time during a long run, I tried to stay on a steady schedule for eating, drinking, and walking: drinking at least every 20 minutes, eating (gu or a mini clif bar or gumdrops) every 40 minutes, and walking for 3 minutes after each 37 minutes of running (coordinating it with the eating). It seemed to work out quite well. After arriving back home, I iced my legs, ate, packed a backpack with more food and drink, and headed off to CU's spring football game where I had a surprising amount of energy (and a beer - which is a rare occurrence for me but oh did it taste good). Definitely a confidence boosting day!

There's a reason I retired

The timing of my run to Michigan is not a coincidence. I retired, I wanted a project to keep me busy after I retired, I wanted to run from Boulder to Petoskey, I needed time to train - thus I retired and started training. The need to be job-free while training has really been driven home to me this week. It's Conference on World Affairs week here in Boulder. This phenomenal conference is hosted by the University of Colorado at Boulder and brings in speakers from all walks of life, participating on panels covering a huge range of topics. While working at CU-Boulder, I always said that I couldn't wait to retire so I would have the time to spend all week at the CWA. Ha! So this year, my first year of retirement, I have a 120-mile running week scheduled which includes two 30-mile days. Here's how one coordinates a CWA day with a 30-mile day:

• Run 3 hours, ending the run on campus in time to attend the first CWA session (picking up a bagel and a chocolate milk 2 hours 45 minutes into the run so you don't faint from hunger during the session).
• Listen to panelists from CNN, the Chicago Tribune, the Newseum, and Mother Jones debate the topic of "The Press: From Watch Dogs to Lap Dogs"
• Go for a 40-minute minute run, grab some quick Chinese food, gulp it down then go to the next session of interest: "Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans" with musicians Lillian Boutte, Henry Butler and Armand Richardson.
• Run home and spend about an hour dealing with getting insurance for the motor home we're picking up next week, my brother's taxes, and correspondence re. my route through Wisconsin.
  
• Dash out the door to run meet a running buddy for a tempo run.
  
• Final tally: 31 miles, only 2 CWA sessions, motor home insurance dealt with except for picking up the temporary insurance cards, Wisconsin route is mapped, still have to finish my brother's taxes.

Tomorrow: snow is likely, hoping for 16 miles of running and perhaps 3 CWA sessions - but I've got to get those taxes done as well as the letters to the schools along the run and the emails to the Departments of Transportation for the states I'm running through. Good thing I'm not working!

Tips from the top

A few weeks ago I worked up enough gumption to send an email to Dean Karnazes (of 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days - and other ultra adventures - fame). Today he gave me a call to share tips that he had learned. It was a great conversation! Some of his tips:

• Safety is of utmost concern. Be visible. Watch out for roads with no shoulders and with short lines of sight. Have your support crew keep an especially close eye on you towards the end of the day when one's mind might begin to wander.
  
• Eat on the run. He was consuming 600-700 calories per hour. You need to keep your stomach happy.
• Keep moving forward (particularly with daily mileage goals, and if you want to finish running before dark).
• Don't push too hard in a given day. Pushing too hard will reduce your ability to recover and put you into debt for the next day's effort.
• Favorite foods: almond butter and banana sandwiches; organic peanut butter cookies. (Moist foods.)
  
• Watch out for too much fiber.
• If the temperature gets into the high 70s or above, take in sodium during the run.
• Rather than sunscreen, cover skin with clothing (big brimmed hats, long sleeve shirts). Sunscreen clogs your pours reducing your ability to sweat. Direct exposure to sun (uncovered skin) is hard on you.
• Put ice under your cap to stay cool.
• Use a plant mister with ice water during the run.
• Most effective recovery technique: ice baths after the run. (Use a big plastic tub/storage container.)
• Take care of your feet (wicking socks, insoles molded to the shape of your foot). Blisters are bad.
  
• Avoid ibuprofen; try Arnica instead.
• Ginger is good.
• Body glide is good; chafing is bad.
• Enjoy the people and places you'll be visiting!
  

All great suggestions. Thank you Dean!

SHARE the road

Boulder is typically a very runner-friendly town. Even still, I'm quite cautious on the road. And even with that, today I got a rude awakening...there, apparently, are morons everywhere.

I was running north, facing traffic, on a fairly wide, low-traffic street. I was approaching a curve in the road and heard a vehicle approaching from the north. It came into view on the curve, traveling pretty fast, straddling the center line. As it straightened out, facing me, it slowed down and moved over right next to the curb (the curb I was running next to). It was so close to the curb, I thought it was going to... park? No. Turn into a driveway just in front of me? No. Instead, it kept coming directly toward me, the driver looking straight into my eyes. I jumped out of the street, stretched my arms wide and said "What the h@*ll?!" - and the driver just continued to stare right at me as he drove on by, picking up speed. Now if I could just remember to check license plates when something like that happens.

In the meantime, I get to run 1435 miles across the country with drivers like that on the road?! Holy smokes!

Springtime in the Rockies

Gently falling snow.
Fresh footprints.
A morning run with a coyote mom and pup.
An afternoon run with a fox and her kits.
Lovely.

The ice man cometh

...or, more accurately, the ice woman...
This morning's run consisted of 18 miles in a sleet storm. By the end, I was quite the fashion plate with head-to-toe ice encrusted garments. Sweet.
Fortunately, for the middle 90 minutes, I had Joe and AndyE for company. Nothing passes time quicker than a chorus of complainers. Actually, when we were running with the wind - and if we were not in the process of attempting to cross a wooden bridge (solid ice, lots of sliding hither and thither) - it was pretty nice running. It was good to have the gang of three back together again after various absences. We even made a Bolder Boulder pact: try to beat Joe's age - and nothing quicker. Neither Joe nor I are in race shape and Joe's age would be a decent time for AndyE. Everybody is allowed to kick it in at the end if they're so inclined, but everyone is supposed to stay on pace for the first 3 miles. We may have to rig up bungee chords or something. Whatever, the Bolder Boulder is a 10k circus through town and thoroughly enjoyable if you go into it with a smile. We may even be out of the sleet and snow by then!

Got the doc's OK!

I went to the doctor today for my annual exam. He's been my doctor for close to 25 years and knows me well. As he said to his nurse, when he told her about my run, "She's crazy - and that's why we like her."
The outcome of the exam? "You've got my permission to go on the run." ...and then I asked him if he'd send a note to my mom telling her that ;-)

The 60-minute 8-minute run

I've been feeling sluggish since our return from our road trip to Michigan. I don't know if it's because of the hours in the car, the return to altitude, allergies due to all the pollen flying about, or just a basic bout of random sluggishness. In any case, I wasn't terribly enthused about going out for my afternoon run.

To get myself out the door, I devised an errand to run: pick up a prescription at our neighborhood King Soopers - a good 8-minute run from home. Being the realistic sort (on a good day), I knew that an 8-minute run would not really be adequate preparation for running 30 miles per day, so I picked a circuitous route to Soops, making it a full 30 minute run to the store (whoopdedoo!). When I turned in the Rx, the pharmacist said it would be a half-hour before it was ready. I sort of looked around for something to do to fill the time then promptly kicked myself back out the door to run some more. It just so happens that I was in a neighborhood that I've run through a kazillion times before and wasn't much in the mood to run a kazillion-and-one times, so I began to meander. And lo and behold I found myself running by the rec center that I had joined one January day when I was fed up with running through snowdrifts and over icy roads. So! In I went to lift some weights - something I've been quite neglectful of the last several months. Not only did the weights pump up my meager muscles, they seemed to have pumped up my energy system. I came out of there a new woman, with a spring in my step, and a readiness to run a few hills on the way back to the store. All in all, a 60 minute run, and a new outlook on life. A fine workout indeed!

Side note: today is the ninth anniversary of the day we adopted Jester dog into our family. What a happy addition to our family! (This picture was taken during a sunset walk along Petoskey's Little Traverse Bay shoreline last week.)

Route Sampler

We have returned from Michigan. I gotta tell ya', if you're interested in birds, travel through south central Nebraska in mid-to-late March to see thousands of sandhill cranes migrating through. 'Tis a sight to behold! In addition to observing the sandhill cranes, I also got a first hand look at parts of my route. The typical routine of the eastbound portion of the trip was:

• check the weather forecast (much of our route was dictated by weather in our attempt to avoid hail, floods, and tornadoes)
• run before starting out on the road
• drive a bunch
  
• run while my husband and brother ate lunch
• drive until dark

The lunch time runs were where I got to try out my route - specifically:

• Highway 83 north out of North Platte, Nebraska - a four lane road with no shoulder but the world's most polite drivers. Every single one of them moved over to give me a full lane to run on. Very nice!
• Highway 35 east out of Norfolk, Nebraska - where I ran uphill, into the wind, in a heavy downpour. It's good to know I'll be running in familiar conditions while on the road ;-) This is also where a ~9 month old dog decided to adopt me and I had a mile or so detour through farm fields and country neighborhoods trying to find his home. (I found houses, but none with anyone home. I ended up leaving him attached to an empty dog chain in someone's yard since he was quite insistent about accompanying me.)
• Highway 35 east out of Menominee, Michigan - the border town where we first enter the Upper Peninsula. This time I ran in fog rolling off ice-covered Lake Michigan on a fairly warm day. Very surreal. A very fun way to enter the state.
• In Petoskey, I ran along the bikepath I'll be running as I enter town...always a beautiful route as it borders Little Traverse Bay which was spectacular on this trip with its ice drifts laced with blue water.
  

So the route sampling was quite enjoyable. However, the mileage overall for the trip was rather low; I finished the week of March 19th with 94.5 miles rather than the planned 110 and only ran 41.5 miles the week of March 26 rather than the 50-60 on the original schedule. This left me feeling rather flat so this week is devoted to kicking myself back into gear. I set out yesterday for a 3 hour run but only managed a couple of hours because I fell on a trail and slid rather like a baseball player stealing home...only over rocks and dirt. I landed on my right side with my right arm fully extended and every muscle in my shoulder is rather mad at me and, on top of that, my right knee took a bruising. Other than that, I came off the fall pretty lightly all things considered (i.e., nothing broken), but I bailed on the rest of the run. Today was much better, with a 13 mile meandering run this morning and 40 minutes of errand running this afternoon. Boulder is quite delightful to run through right now with blossoms springing out all over. It's a good time to re-energize and gear up for The Run!