Long Runs are Over!

Not that I am complaining about long runs but the last one on my current training schedule finished up this morning; and it was good.
Since Tuesday's "alcoholics' revenge run" I did a perky 9:00 pace 5K run on Wednesday and a perkier 9:00 pace 8.2 mile run on Thursday. The latter got me back in the groove.
On Friday one of the two guys I know from Orlando who is going down to Miami for the race at the end of the month called me. First he had to report a Honda Civic that did the Starsky & Hutch death defying drive off a 60-foot high embankment down onto his high school outdoor basketball courts. The dufus driving ended up on his roof. Nobody was hurt and the driver limped off, apparently bleeding, into an adjacent apartment complex for university students. Does that give you an idea of who the driver was? Once we got past that boring stuff we talked about training and the race.
D. said he and J. were going to run ~20 miles Saturday morning at 530. I asked how fast they would be going and he said "slow." I asked for a definition and he said 9:00 pace or so. I said, "That might be more than I want but I'll see you tomorrow."
I showed up at the appointed time. D. was 20 minutes late. The outside temps were as cold as they've been down here all "winter" - 35 degrees. I had on tights, gloves, cap and two and one-half layers of dri-fit. When the wind picked up later in the run I was glad for my wardrobe selection.
We started out and talked a lot to get to know each other. It was fun because we're all in the education administration business. So complex, most humble common and even educated people couldn't fathom what all we have to deal with. Anyway, we were well stocked in Gu but no water or Gatorade. These guys are a couple of 30-somethings who have not planned their training nearly as anally as I have, I guess. They just go on instinct.
Well I enticed them with a route that ran back to Winter Park and through all the high rent neighborhoods (rent=mortgage; what's the difference? The bank owns it). They bit and so I programmed in all my water stops from Sunday runs. We had a few detours so I could show 'em so-and-so's house, etc. We ran by my house and back to J's house (the start).
SueandPaul's pedometer told me it was 19.25 miles that we covered in 3 hours and 6 minutes; a lousy 9:40 pace. For all the yacking we did, I can understand why we were slower. It felt faster but that must have been the mirage of talking so much that time just flew on by.
Tomorrow I'll go 5 miles or so; then it's a slow down couple of weeks as the taper begins.
I am planning my next race so not to fall into a doldrum depression when Miami is done. I am thinking the Gasparilla races in Tampa, February 25-26, and/or the River Run in Jacksonville March 12. Always set a goal. It keeps you up.

P.S. Good luck to racers Michelle (Disney) and jeff (OC) this weekend!

I've Never Done Referrals Before

You only get one. Go read why.

I Missed the Train

It was so hot last night I threw all the covers off, opened the window and turned on the fan. I still slept like poop.
At 530 I peeked out of one eyelid and saw the time. Before the second eyelid cracked it was 600.
Okay. OKAY! I'm up.
No headache. Just not rested.
I went to the track.
Goal: 3x1 mile @ 8:30 pace; 3x800m @ 8:00 pace.
Result: 2x1 mile @ 8:30 pace. Super-sweating from the rum, I went home. I was actually pleased with my pace but had no stamina.
Today was back-on-the-wagon day. Oops. No it wasn't. I stopped for a beer on the way home from work. Did I mention work was toiling enough to make me want a beer?

Where's the Train?

I think I hear a train coming. It will arrive tomorrow morning right between my eyes. This is not a running story. This is a hangover in the making.
With some reluctance (why? because I wanted to read a book or pull weeds. Are you kidding?) I went to a New Year's Day (January 2nd) bowl game today. I had tickets but nobody to go with me. Mrs. T. had to work. West Point T. was on a plane back to WP. Youngest T. was rolling over in bed and not interested. So I went solo.
I parked downtown for free. Rode a shuttle to the game for free. Walked down a street next to the stadium and was hailed over to the side of the road to yack with a US Marshall. We saw each other at church on Christmas Eve. He introduced me to several other security specialists in their "casual wear" (no visible weapons) and then I was off to find a free pass to the hospitality village.
I found a man I know who gave me the one off his neck. Good man. I was in. In for a binge.
The village was a collection of corporate sponsored tents on the manicured grounds of the adjoining baseball stadium. I found a tent with some buddies I knew and had a decision to make....what to drink. I figured whatever I had would be my drink for the day.
Rum and tonic with a lime please.
That was the first of way too many. I had a little something to eat and wandered off to visit the other tents. The university bands marched in and played a short set of numbers while the cheerleaders and majorettes caught eyes.
I found my West Point son's best friend's dad, Jack, who is notorious for having a good time. I kept drinking. We talked with all the big shots and politicians. Then they all left for the game. It was close to kickoff.
I stayed with Jack and a handful of folks who had mastered the technique of keeping the hospitality village alive through halftime. We sorta watched the game on big plasma screen TVs in the tent while telling stories, harrassing the service staff who kept trying to tear down the bar and then throwing nerf footballs around in right field of the ballpark.
We missed halftime.
We did manage to go up to my seats on the 50 for the third quarter, had a polish sausage, peanuts and a beer; but right after the fourth quarter started we left, going our separate ways. I took the shuttle downtown and drove home. It wasn't until I got home that I realized I had ... uh, fallen off the training wagon.
So I slept/passed out until 830, got up and had some leftover Christmas dinner and here we are, waiting for the train.
I must go now. Nothing makes a train late better than a tall glass of water.
I have some 3x1mile and 3x800 repeats in the morning. Stay tuned for a head bashing report.

Ugh

I have a litany of excuses for why I only covered 19.5 miles in 3 hours and 30 minutes today. Few of them will likely occur on January 29 so I have no problem throwing them out there and lamenting:

1. I ran from 1030 until 1430.
2. The temperature ranged from 70 to 75 during that period.
3. I was on my feet way too much last night at a New Year's Eve party.
4. I stayed out too late and didn't hit the pillow until 130.
5. I didn't have enough Gu.
6. I ran a hard 10 miles on Thursday.
7. I cut the route short and walked a half mile.

Like I said, none of these will recur in Miami. The only nice thing about today was I got four hours of sun since I ran without a shirt.

Happy New Year good friends.