5.13.2007

Timberrrrrrr!

Moments ago, as I was reading your blogs, I heard a rather loud noise. The dogs barked like crazy. I thought it sounded like an ironing board slipping on the terrazzo and falling to the floor. No it was a huge oak tree branch falling in the street. And that oak tree happens to be a few feet into the neighbor's yard so I'll let him deal with it. I had the branches on my side trimmed three years ago to avoid them falling my way.

I raced yesterday. A 5K. My goal was to see if I could PR. It was the Trees race. Point to point with a private dirt road over the last 3/4 mile. The road is open to the public only once a year. It is a habitat for a lot of peacocks that live there. All 1000 runners got to take home a small tree in any number of varieties. Winners got bigger trees.

I needed to do 7:30 spits to PR. I did so through the first two miles. I was right on it. In the third I could feel me fading. The heat and humidity were nasty. There was also some wildfire smoke to contend with. Regardless, I didn't have the juice and did the third mile in 8:15, finishing in 23:58. Any time I can cut under 24 minutes is a good thing but yesterday was a long way from where I wanted to be.

Today I went downtown for my Sunday run. My new fast crowd had left at 600. I was standing there in the intersection all by myself considering a long slow lonely run. I should have taken it.

Jane and Mary showed up a few minutes later. They took a different route than usual and went out fast; faster than my legs wanted to go. After finishing a four mile loop back downtown after 37 minutes I said, "That's it. I don't feel like running any more."

So I quit. I was good with that. I had a good weekend otherwise. Happy Mothers Day to all who qualify.

14 comments:

Jenniferlyn said...

Even though you did not PR, congrats on a sub-24 !

Have a good week!

Darrell said...

"under 24 minutes is a good thing "

I'm going to latch on to that phrase and call it good. Sounds like your satisfied.

You can't use that branch as fire wood next winter?

Darrell said...

correction: "you're"

Neese said...

wow this post is so treeie :-), I'm super paranoid about a tree near our house, we need to have it taken down, I'm always wondering when I'll hear that big thud

Molly said...

oh we have oak trees all over LSU and they are always dropping branches! You're smart for keeping your trees trimmed!

good job with the 5K i know how hard it is to run in hot and humid weather...it's not easy. And add the smoke on top of it...that must have been miserable! Keep up the great work David!

21stCenturyMom said...

The Trees were with you, grasshoppah! Nice race even if you didn't PR. It is that constant reminder to watch the pace at the beginning. Why is that so hard??!

Unknown said...

i'm laughing at darrell's comment. firewood. hahahahah. do you even have chimneys in florida?

Lara said...

Geez, firewood was my first thought too - but of course I'm still turning on the furnace and taking in the plants at night because of frost.

Nice on the sub-24:00!

Rich said...

23:58? That's my PR! What are you shooting for?

Joe said...

The third mile can be a booger, indeed. You learned much, even from a 5K! Perhaps even more the next morning!!

Runner Susan said...

I don't think I've ever run an 8:15 mile, with or without firewood.

Rae said...

Great job on the great time, even though it wasn't a PR! The tree thing is really cute!! I'd always prefer plants to reg race shirts!!

Jank said...

Oh, geeze. Now I'm going to be worrying about my hammock tree in the back yard.

jeanne said...

i have trees, one right outside my window. if it falls on my bedroom, someone owes me a new condo! yay!

nice running!