5.18.2008

Making the most of May

Looking back at history I have been a lousy May runner. It always seems to be a slacker time of year for me. Not this year. I am on pace to top 100 miles of running after my 13.5 miler this morning. I usually do not put down that many miles unless I am in serious training for something. Nada. Just determined to maintain a higher long run base level.

Today was mid 70s, overcast and humid. There were four new runners at the Orlando Runners Club meeting this morning. 7 a.m. Park Avenue. Three were local and one was a visitor from Ft. Collins, CO. She was fast and looking to run 18 miles today. Ha! Well we put her with Dave who could run with her. She had a soggy piece of paper with directions in case she got lost. She was nice and friendly so everybody helped out.

I veered off the course after nine miles taking a left instead of a right to make sure I had no choice but going the distance I had set out to run. I was resigned to doing some run/walk sequencing because of the heat and for trying to run with Ms. Ft. Collins for a while. I survived. With just one run during the week last week, I was happy to get it done.

Time to put in some speed work this week, just to remember how I like it. Maybe a ladder up and down.

I am having doze-off visions of running new routes in Rhode Island this July/August. I arrive too late for the Blessing of the Fleet 10 Miler but there's a 4-mile run to look forward to. (Did I write about this already? It seems I did).

Anyway, school is winding down. Just a couple more weeks. We have had our share of controversy with $33 million in budget cuts set for next year. One remedy has been to flip the start time of middle and high schools so that the middles start at 7:30 and the highs at 9:30. WE can cut out 37 buses, drivers, fuel and maintenance with the move.

Needless to say, the natives are very restless. What time does high school start where you live? I am thinking the high schoolers will benefit from sleeping later, given that they stay up later.

11 comments:

Darrell said...

Our HS starts at 8:00. Everyday is a struggle to get him up and going. I fear moving the start time later would only invite even later nights negating any benefit from sleeping in. There's no easy answer for sure, for this or the budget situation.

Cindy Jo said...

Our district did the exact same thing in order to share buses among the schools. The high school starts the earliest, though b/c of all the sports and activites after school (plus study time). I think they start by 8 am and the younger kids start at 9, which is good b/c they have less homework.

9:30 seems really late, although for sleeping in it would be great.

Joe said...

Like Cindy Jo, our district went to split skeds with the HS starting at 7:45am and the little kids at 8:45. Sports and stuff after school the reason for the early HS start. Did save a lot of money on bus hardware/drivers.

Nice mileage...keep it up!

Anonymous said...

No Blessing of the Fleet this year?!? Bummer! :(
The HS starts at 7:25 and my school starts at 8:25.

Jeff said...

Hi David,

I just stumbled across your blog. When I saw "blockisland" I had to have a look. I have some Block Islanders among my ancestors and have been there many times. I also ran a fair number of cross country races in RI, years ago.

Congrats on your running success this month.

Our high schools here, not too far from Orlando, start late (mostly 9:20 or 9:30). I think the idea was just what you mentioned, to fit in with kids staying up late/getting up later.

Maddy said...

Great job on the Sunday run. It was humid. I was glad it was overcast.

You should have some great training this summer in Rhode Island.

Unknown said...

I am getting ready for the end of the year as well, but I have told the kids we're working right up until the last day. Maybe I'll ease up on the final day. I believe the high schoolers actually start 30 minutes before us at the middle school level. Interesting move to cut costs. I know there are budget cuts in the plans for our district as well next year.

jeanne said...

h.s. here starts at 7:15 or so. i remember having to drop the kid off by 7 every day. ah that now seems like sleeping in!

nice mileage you got there. you FORGOT TO MENTION YOUR D.C. run!

Rae said...

Wow, 9:30 sounds so late, but like a good HS time for the night owls! What time would they get out??? Most everything here is 7:15, 7:30, 7:45, 8:00, 8:15 or 8:30.

Great job with all those May miles!

peter said...

Ms. Ft. Collins was exerting some altitude adjustment upon you.

9:30? That's unbelievable. What a seven-years we've had. Can you spell chads? Or Scalia?

Nice to do a 100 mile month. Those are few and far between on my 56-year old knees.

Rich said...

I don't want to know about high school yet. Elementary starts at 7:45a. Middle school starts at 8:30a.