Hoo-ahh

Dancing - I went to the ballet last night. They presented six superb segments with some very talented dancers. While watching them perform I had this revelation about how difficult it must be to train to be a ballet dancer. Just think how amazingly strong their foot, ankle and calf muscles have to be, not to mention the rest of their bodies. That is some hard work. I though to compare it to marathon training and a race. Somehow the ballet training doesn't seem to be quite as satisfactory as breezing along on the open streets of our passion.

Running - If you read the entry before this one where I lamented my lack of speed, let me tell you about today. I overslept on the Sunday morning running gang so went out from my house in the reverse direction of the gang's route. I figured I'd at least wave to them as we passed each other. My plan developed in the first half mile: slow warm up, quick middle and cool down the last mile.
My first two miles passed at a 9:30 pace. Then I started to pick it up. M3 went by in 8:30. Then Mile 4 took only 8:05. That was fresh! Mile 5 slid back to 9:00 and the last mile was 9:15. Total time: 53:49.2, a seventh best time for me on that route. I never imagined I'd score today. I was very happy. Now I have to pick a race to train for so there is a real plan on my Dead Runners Society spreadsheet.

Army Movements - The cadets have been nothing but a pleasure. They do their own laundry, clear the table, wash the dishes and are responsible men. Well most of them are. Son T decided to sleep in today while his four guests were up at 830 looking to go for a run. I had the blueberry pancake breakfast all ready to go but held off so younger son C, who ran a track meet on Friday, could be their navigator through the unfamiliar neighborhoods. He blew off a day at the beach so he - the 18-year old - could lead a quartet of bona fide West Point cadets on a training run. He was the officer in charge, so to speak, so he was pretty darned pleased with himself. He pushed their pace too.
One of the cadets had to stop to use facilities about two miles out from the house. I am surprised they left him but they did. When they got back to the house they kept looking down the street (right) for Jae to appear but he was lost somewhere. I drove off to find him and he was on a road heading away from the house just motoring along. When he saw me he said, "Thank you, sir. Am I going the right way?" I told him no and got him turned around.
Once they were home and cooled down with a mass jump in the pool I served up the pancakes and everybody was very happy. They went off to Busch Gardens-Tampa today to ride rollercoasters.
I went to a spring training game at Disney (Braves v. Cardinals). The game was sold out but I walked up to the window in the top of the 2nd inning and asked if they had a single seat in the stands. Lo and behold they sold me a 2nd row seat behind home plate. It had to be one of the best seats in the house. It was definitely a 99% weekend.