Getting back to Boston

Pre-work "until" run -- run until I finish or until they call me to go to work. Timed it just about perfectly; my phone went off after I turned back onto Burnham Court, with less than 15 seconds left in the run. Came up just six seconds short of two hours for 12.29 miles AHR was about 131, but I did push the pace just a little bit more, and it was about 50 degrees, warmer than it's been for morning runs lately. Since I missed yesterday, may do a shortie after work just to get to my 60-mile week.

Now for some Nesquik and off to the salt mines. Then we'll see what happens this week in and around Bella Vista <evil grin>. 

Ninety minutes at the track. Dallied around until after dark, then remembered that the WAR crew was supposed to be doing speedwork at 6. I wasn't going to do speedwork, but figured it would be nice to be out there with some friends anyway. Except, as far as I could tell, none of them showed. There was one guy and one woman running 200s, but didn't recognize either one. Anyway, run went well. Worked to keep the pace and HR down for the first six miles or so, then picked it up, trying to finish 15K in 90 minutes. Didn't quite get there (missed by 100 meters), but kept going and finished 15K in 90:30. AHR was still around 130 anyway.

Easy 9+ at MAFC, since it was cold and rainy all day. I could have gone outside if I had to, but didn't have to, so just do it inside. Wasn't sure I was going to get through it, though. Legs took forever to loosen up, and just about the time they finally warmed up, I got nauseated. Kept going, nothing came up, and actually felt good for the last 2-3 miles. Briefly considered going on to finish 10, but nah. This was fine. Lost track of the laps without a clicker and ran one extra, so it was 9.13 instead of 9.06. Keep this up, do a decent run Saturday morning, and this might be a 75-mile week. It's gonna be cold starting tomorrow night, though; I'm hearing maybe teens for lows. Tights time!

Gorgeous day, so got out earlyish, like before 11. Original plan was to do 9, then it just kept expanding. Wound up doing 13+. Did a lot of thinking in those two hours; a few things happened in the last 24 hours for me to think about. No conclusions, yet, but will explore some things. Anyway, run was comfortable. Warm enough that my AHR crept up to 130, but I kept the pace around 10:00 until the last mile or so, when I just got ready to get it over with. Well on my way to a 70-mile week, which wouldn't be bad for an old guy in January. Now waiting for the cold snap to arrive. Saturday morning with the WAR crew might be rather interesting.

A pretty major day for the old Spiderpig. Got named Midlevel of the Month at work, and it got better from there. Had a really good 10-miler at dusk, and it still got better.  I have a woman in my life now, and I'm about as sure as I can be that she's going to stay there for a while. I've thought she was very attractive since I've known her, but I didn't think I had a snowball's chance. Turns out, very fortuitously, I was wrong. She's wanted to get together with me, and yesterday she started taking steps to make that happen, since I evidently wasn't catching her hints (Never have done subtle well, have I, Pam?). Fortunately for both of us, her direct approach worked. And the last 24 hours or so has been a whirlwind; my mind is reeling.

I'm still completely stunned that she's interested in me at all, never mind that this has been going on for a while, but I'm absolutely thrilled about it. And my coverage has been way, way outkicked. Thank goodness she called for the fair catch, to extend the bad football analogy.

So after very little sleep, and talking/texting to her pretty much nonstop from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., then the work meeting and a failed attempt at a nap, I ran that 10.6 at 9:30 pace on pure adrenaline. Still pretty wired, even though I'm exhausted. Tomorrow, probably 6-8, then a dinner date with her. Saturday, although she has to clear it with her visiting daughter, I hope to spend the afternoon and evening in Fedvul with her, including Bordino's and basketball. And a trip to get her fitted for running shoes; on top of everything else, she's a runner (how perfect is this?). But before heading north, a morning run with the WAR crew. I'll get GF out there with WAR eventually, but not quite yet.

If she can't go, I'm still going to the game, but I really hope she can make it. It'll be a fun afternoon/evening.

Easy, easy 9ish. Legs felt a little heavy, understandable given lack of sleep, lack of food and heavy training load this week, but got through OK at 10:25 average. A little late lunch, a little nap, then get ready for the big date with my girlfriend. Man, I wondered if I'd ever use those words: "my girlfriend."

I'd planned to get up early and go to Chaffee to run with WAR this morning,. Nope. Not happening. Sleep was minimal and fitful last night, after I got home shortly after midnight. Really no idea why. I didn't get any good sleep until after 4:30. So when the alarm went off at 6:45, forget about it.

Got up 8ish, I guess, communicated a little with GF by text, chatted on FB and RWOL, tracked Leah and others in the Olympic Trials, then worked out a training plan for Cindy for her next race over FB. And watched people scrambling to try to figure out who I'm dating. This oughta be good. I don't care who knows; I'm proud to be dating her, but she doesn't want the word out yet, and I'm going to respect that. And I know every person who actually knows her identity (a very, very short list). So if somebody says so and so told them, I know so and so is full of it.

 Anyway, after all that, went out for 8.3. It had warmed up into the 50s, so I was quite comfortable in singlet and shorts. Also glad I wore the sunglasses; I needed them. Wound up with 72+ for the week, never going more than 13ish. Brick by brick, the base is being built. Gonna be hard to do 70 next week with working, but I can do 50+, I'm sure. Then back to 60s or 70s the following week. Also back to dating. Work and dating aren't going to coexist due to schedule conflicts, but that's tolerable (barely). Get through the work week, then see her on the off weeks.