Patience; the new endurance sport.

I was tempted to take the whole week off.  But I'm headed to Austin this week and promised my old pal that I'd run around his lake.  So I can't give up this week before I do that.  I am looking forward to running in a new place and seeing new things. But overall, I do feel I need to cross train more on the bike and run less right now.  The cold is wrecking my hips again.  So next week I'll do more excersize, just less running. 

So today was my first day on the bike.  I did an hour, but couldn't stand it for any longer (it hurts my butt when I'm not used to it!).  So I ran on the treadmill.  P.S. I haven't watched a movie in so long, the bike/treadmill combo was actually fun! I've made arrangements with Marsha to do a MWF, instead of MTWTHF thing.  That way I can get cross training in there and save some pounding for January.  I need a break, I've been really really busy since August and haven't had a chance to gather my energy back, sharpen the saw, etc.

Man!  Today was so hot outside (ok, balmy, windy, warm) I had to take off my long sleeve t-shirt and run with just my vest on. I looked like Rambo with my earmuff and vest (why is it the only day you have to strip or wear otherwise strange ensembles the whole neighboorhood is out by 6:00 a.m.?). I had such a great day yesterday. I finally felt on top of my energy level and this morning I woke up at 5:00 absolutely ready to take it on.  I'm finally feeling more rested and recovered.  I'd guess it was because I didn't run S,S,M and then I biked on W.  I think the days off have helped me get the exhaustion under control.  I don't know how people go race to race so soon--I wish I could--It's the funnest part of running.  But I can't hack it (or I can't as long as I have other things to do that matter, like fix meals, work, boss my kids around, soccer/homework/school play/piano). I only have so much energy now-a-days.  However, were I to redo this whole last month, I would have been on my bike M,W,F for 2-3 weeks post marathon.  I think my recovery would have gone better, and my fitness level would not have diminished to such a degree.  Because now I've got my energy level under control, I am totally out of shape and weight a million pounds. (Note to self about next post-race recovery period).   Heading out now to run around the lake in Austin and paddleboard on the Colorado River.  I hope it stays in the 80's there. 

I had a very early flight, so I had to trail run with the headlamp.  It was two miles less than I desired, but it's what I could reasonably fit in.  It was a gorgeous, wet rainy morning, I've missed running alongside the river on these dark mornings (we've been on the road instead).  I wanted more time, but had to get going to catch my plane.  I think I startled Sasha and Jeff as I rounded a dark corner with my enetorage of dogs and the headlamp in their faces at 6:15.

I ran the dirt trail around LadyBird lake in Austin.  I have a really good friend I grew up with who is kind of like the little brother I never had.  He called me about a month ago to announce he'd lost 30 pounds since his daugther was born, and has been running since he moved to Austin.  He wanted me to come run around his trail because he knew I'd just love it (and Austin).  That is one busy trail, in 6 miles we passed like 2 different organized 5K's and a triatholon.  It's a gorgeous place for it, almost in the downtown.   It was fun to add one more running trail to my list of super-fun places to run.  The trail was awesome and I wanted to go forever because it was dirt.  But that's when I learned that what my friend and I call 'running' isn't quite the same thing.  I figured that since he's really tall we'd keep a good clip but what he's been doing is running 12 m/m , walking a bit, and then "sprinting/striding" every so often.  Wow, that was new.  So we compromsied by trying to maintain an 11:00 mile and then sprinting every few hundred meters.  We followed the run by paddleboarding.  The amount of water and greenery, artsy decor, live music, and kitschy restaurants was a great surprize to me.  Not like the rest of Texas at all.  And the weather was spectacular. I was wearing shorts when I called home to find that my kids were sitting in front of the fireplace watching the snowfall outside the window.  I had a fun trip.  But it's good to be back.  I love my own river too.