5.25.2008

Forgive me

Forgive me fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters for I have failed. This morning's run was about as wee-wee poor as it has ever been. Why? Let me whine. Please!
  • It was brutally humid after raining last night for the first time in a month
  • It was mid- to upper-70s
  • I had more dental work earlier in the week
  • I had Week #2 of the natives-are-restless protest against the district because of the secondary school start times flip (and I do mean protest; as in 100 marching on the district office and 65 more walking out of classes at one high school)
  • I ran intervals for the first time since February on Tuesday. They felt good but I didn't do as many as I planned.
  • Thursday's run was a sled ride through shallow water
  • I am an old man
  • I have been waking up at 4 a.m. every day and having to "re-run" my runs in my head to get back to sleep for a short spell
  • Runner Susan is using voodoo again
That's about it for now. If I think of any more complaints I will spare you until I need them again. If I had run the Trees 5K yesterday, that would have been an excellent excuse; but I didn't.

Today was supposed to be a roll-back 10-11 miler. Down 2-3 miles from last week. How could that be hard? Augh! I was walking by mile 3. I turned in to do just six for the day and finished with four walk breaks and a 1:10 time. I was so dead in the legs.

So I needed a pick-me-up; two in fact. I went to Starbucks for a Grande Americano. That helped. Then I went to Publix to sit for a free blood pressure test. With West Point son dealing with high blood pressure (170/110!!!) and learning my dad's been on BP meds for 35 years, I felt the urge to check mine. It had been six months or so. I wasn't worried. Just curious.

Pump me up. Pinch it. Let it out. Aghhhhh. 104/59. Boy was that nice. About as low as mine has ever been. Question: Doctor, do blood pressure readings typically read lower after exercise?

9 comments:

Joe said...

Humidity is a booger. Florida has a lot of humidity. You'll adjust...you do each year, especially once the "natives" go to their summer roles.

Happy to hear the low BP...yes, it is hereditary...yes, you can keep it low. But I'm not a doc, nor do I play one on TV...

Runner Susan said...

When my voodoo is in full swing, I'm usually 100/60 . . . seems like we are on the same training program.

What's a Publix?

jeanne said...

well you know what you always told me: if it wasn't for the bad days you wouldn't appreciate the good ones. sounds like the week from hell.

give yourself a break. Has your son graduated yet? I DREAMT ABOUT HIM.

David said...

T. doesn't graduate until next June, July, August or December. Pick a month; any month.

David said...

Publix is a Kroger.

Rae said...

Ooooh, what's a Publix. I just love Publix. We drive 15 miles each way to shop there versus Ghetto Kroger.

Yeah, our humidity is really starting to kick in, I can't imagine yours. Ugh!

Maddy said...

First, I find it amusing that Runner Susan asked what a Publix is. I guess if you didn't know, it would be a Whaaa? type of question.

Been watching the natives on TV. I don't envy you. At all.

And it's true, the bad days allow us to appreciate the good ones. Before you know it, we'll be running in the cool (hopefully) in Chicago. Won't that be nice?

peter said...

High B/P. What a bugaboo. Exercise every day for years unlike most folks only to post a steady stream of 170/110s with low pulse rates. Why? Who knows? Genetics? The killing divorce litigation? All the salt in American food you can't get away from? Then the meds' hidden side effects, which your woman doctor didn't think was worth mentioning, kick in and further diminish your life unacceptably so you quit. Hmm, sounds like the cycle of chronically injured runners.

Rich said...

I tink dat Runner Susan getch you avery tyme ...