Getting back to Boston

Ran OKC this morning with Sheri. Wasn't going to go fast, knew that months ago. The plan was to get Sheri (and hopefully Sherrie and Heidi) a big PR. Heidi got hurt last month, and Sherrie got caught up in the crush of people and never found us before the race. But Sheri and I stuck together for nearly five hours, and she got a 13-minute PR. Which I find extremely gratifying. She put her trust in me today, and I helped her get what she wanted. And I like Sheri very much, which makes it that much better that she reached her goal.

As for me, I was treating it as a training run, forgetting that no matter how fast or slow you go, 26.2 is a really long way. I didn't cramp during the run, but boy, during our mid-afternoon lunch... Left hammy and quad both locked up within a couple of minutes. I had to quit eating and stand up to get them loose. And then I faced three hours plus in the car back to FS, but with cruise control and one stop, got home with no further issues.

Worried about whether to run today because there's been a tender spot in my left calf since Sunday night, and I'm thinking, what if it's a partial tear? But icing this morning seemed to help, and I decided to try it. It was a little stiff at first, but nothing too bad, and it got better as I went along. Wound up doing 7.40 and got down below 10:00 for the last 3+ miles. Dunno if I'll be ready to do a fast 10K at Toad Suck, but I'm not injured, anyway. Might just go out later for a double to get to 260 miles for the month, 'cause that's the kind of OCD fool I am.

Calf is feeling better. Not completely painfree, but enough that I can ignore it. Today, 86-degree heat was a much bigger concern than the calf. But I got 12 miles done in it at slightly under 10:00 pace, which is fine in this weather. Doing 15 with Tiff (partially) tomorrow, may or may not run Friday, 10K Saturday, run Sunday, LR Monday, and then it's taper time. I may have 75 miles in this week before the taper starts.

Ran 6 with Tiff this morning, then 9.4 on my own. She tried to cook me, getting down in the mid 8s by the end. I backed off after she left, but still kept it in the mid-9s. Average 9:31. Legs felt pretty heavy but kept the pace up regardless. I think I'm in shape now. Get through this weekend, taper like crazy, and then bust one in Michigan.

I'm amazed at how well Toad Suck went today. At the start I felt kinda blah, but I settled into a comfortable pace which was quicker than I expected. Staci and Joel let me know they were there early, and I responded by dropping them. Then, at about 4 miles, I realized I felt pretty good and had more to give, and I got faster. Could I have run a PR? Maybe not quite, but I could have gotten a lot closer than 51 seconds, which is what I did. I'm home now, about 11 hours after the race, after driving to Newport from Conway and then all way back to the Casa, and I'm feeling more aftereffects from the drive than the race. (Very good visit in Newport, by the way, but that's a little off the subject here).

Started out with a 7:27 split per Garmin; girl with stopwatch said 7:38, I think. Second mile was 7:32 per Garmin, then 7:42, which was the hilliest mile, and 7:44. That's when I realized I had more in the tank and accelerated. Fifth mile and sixth mile were both in 7:18 per Garmin. I know the girl with the stopwatch at 5 miles said 38:07, so I ran the last 1.21 in 8:44 if she was accurate. Per Garmin, the last 0.27 were at sub-7 pace. Total chip time was 46:51. My watch read 46:54 when I stopped it just over the mat. Anyway it goes, I'm pretty happy. Especially six days after a marathon.

It wasn't that I felt fast today. I didn't. But I felt strong. That pace didn't bother me, and I could have run faster. And I don't owe Staci dinner -- yet. Somebody said she was upset after the race. I know she wants to beat me. I made her the challenge to motivate her -- and motivate myself. I'm not gonna give up that free dinner without a fight. Now if she wants to go out with me, that's another issue -- but that ain't gonna happen. Which is fine. I have other fish to catch.

Today gives me a load of confidence going to Bayshore. If I felt this strong at 7:32 average pace, it's an indicator I can hold 7:59 for 3.5 hours.