track fan

2:03:39.  1:03:59/59:40 (9:08/8:31).  Last 2 miles were 7:45/7:40.  Doesn't look like much but it was 88F and sunny when I started and 95.8F and sunny when I finished.  It was not pleasant.  I tried to keep it really slow for the first half because I knew that the last 2 miles would be uncomfortable no matter what the pace.  I was glad that I was able to finish strong, despite feeling horrid.  It is always hard acclimating to the high temps (and the sun is so strong it feels much warmer), but the key is to take it easy -- hard to do when what your body craves most is to get the darn run over with ;-).

I hope you are all having a wonderful day!!  Rest up Boston bound bloggers!! 

AM: (9.5 miles, 1:09:43).  ~29wu/cd + 8 x steep hill repeats.  Feel very yucky today.  Lack of sleep and maybe a low grade somethingorother ... felt like I was going to throw up for a while this morning, but it did not get any worse upon running, so I decided to do the workout anyway.  Greg had wanted me to run these easier than last week, get a workout, but not a super hard one.  I am not sure this is because he has something "special" in store for Thursday, or he is just looking out for me ;-).

PM: easy 4, I hope.

I need to get some sleep ... and to lower the stress level ... things are way out of control right now at work.

Such a great day for running yesterday!!  I have been a Desi fan for a long time but holy cow she really outdid herself yesterday!!  And it was awesome seeing Ryan Hall be back to his form from a while ago.  And what the heck can you say besides 2:03:02 and 2:03:06?  wow. 

The blog had such a good showing too, with Paul and Nan, Mike, Barb, Rockness, JeffL, AmberG, Jose, Scott Hughs, Michael L, Alicia Christie, and Kimberly!  Congratulations everyone!

1:03:43.  Up the Yeatman Trial ... snake sightings = 0 so I still have a few more days to run on the trails! 

I still feel weird.  I am not really sick, but I am definitely not good either.  I did sleep a little better last night, but I am stressed and just not functioning at 100% (which is not good, because I am super-duper busy here at work).  Seriously, I just don't see how I am going to get everything done that I need to ... (caution: vent ahead) I am working on a huge grant, huge in terms of money (over a million/year) and huge in terms of impact for the University.  Things are so bad with research grants right now that U of A has lost 3 of these big grants over the past 6 months (NIH is not funding as many grants and these other grants did not make the cut - one of them, that I was involved in, was because it was too expensive, the others are because they did not score high enough).  If we lose this one too our Cancer Center (research-wise) is in big trouble - translating into bunches of people losing their jobs.  Anyway -- this grant is due next month.  I am in charge of the biostatistics core - we provide the statistical help for 4 projects (each project is as big as a usual grant), plus, I am also co-leader for one of the research projects.  What does this mean?  It means I am essentially working on 5 grants, at the same time as I am teaching a big service class (tougher to teach than when I am teaching graduate PhD statistics students) plus all my other duties (I am funded 40% on other research grants that all have some sort stupid timelines ;-) ).  YIKES.  Plus, I am supposed to be getting my dossier ready to go up for tenure by June.  This means that I really really really need to get my own papers written, right now I have 2 papers that I am trying to finish ... but I just don't have time.  My TA and RA (same grad student) is not doing her job, and so I might have to fire her ... anyway, whine whine whine.  I know, if I weren't whining so much I would be getting more work done ... here I go.

Happy running bloggers!

AM: (9 miles, 1:17:23).  last 20` hard (last little over two miles in 16:04, when I hit the landmark on my way out it was in 18:11).

PM: easy 4.

Tough day, very tired, I think I have allergies.  Another statistic friend of ours from Los Alamos is coming out to give a talk in the math department tomorrow, so he is staying at our house for the next couple of days.  I am glad that Dean will have a friend to hang out with for a couple of days, I have been way boring for the past few months ;-).

Have a wonderful day bloggers, run fast, have fun!

1:10:18.  Started my run up the Yeatman Trail, turned back after I saw a tiger rattlesnake about 1/4 mile in ... so I turned around and left ... my rule is after I see two I leave the mountains to them for the next 4 months.  Hiking is a little safer because you can see them easier and don't startle them, running is hazardous.  He was huge, and very agitated.  As I turned to go back to the road this couple came walking down the trail, I pointed him out to them and the guy kept trying to get closer and closer to get a picture.  His wife and I were trying to get him to stop ... I felt sorry for the snake.  

Have a wonderful day bloggers. 

AM: (8 miles, 1:10:33).  Nice hilly and hot run ... no snakes, just some javalina.

PM: easy 4

I just received a most awesome gift from a friend who is a New Balance sales rep (and a great steeplechaser), she sent me a pair of NB Minimus (trail runners).  They are SWEET (even though I can't wear them with orthotics).  I highly recommend them!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!