Getting back to Boston

May or may not be any running to report today, but I needed to post anyway. We had Tyler's birthday gathering last night at Larry's Pizza in west Little Rock, just family and friends. No cake or singing Happy Birthday or any of that, just quiet. Afterward, I left to drive back here, he made plans to go out with his friends. I got home around 9, was asleep by 11.

At 11:30, the phone rang. It was Tyler, and he was shaken. He and CJ had gone to Sean's apartment. When they left the apartment some time around 11, there was a guy outside with a gun. Took Sean's cellphone, Tyler's wallet, ID and cash; not sure if anything else taken. T was obviously very rattled and upset, and I quickly joined him. He had not talked to the police at that point; they arrived soon. Some people nearby saw the incident and thought they knew the robber, but to my knowledge, no one has been caught.

T then texted me at 4 a.m. that he couldn't sleep because his mind wouldn't shut down. I can believe that. I can't imagine being held up at gunpoint, and I'm just thankful the guy didn't panic and start shooting.

I didn't sleep very well either, even though I was exhausted after a very long day. Before I went back to bed, I'd talked to Pam a couple of times, called the bank to cancel his debit card, and tried to figure out how T can get on the flight to go see Pam Monday without an ID (also stolen). He can do it, but he'd better get to the airport really, really early.

I may or may not go to MAFC and run later. At this moment, running doesn't seem all that important.

Back to MAFC after work for 8 on the track. Glute acting up again; I may just have to bite the bullet and get it evaluated. In spite of that, ignored the discomfort and did a progression run. Last half-mile or so were close to or at MP. Even got chicked along the way by Erica from WAR, even though she ran 6 laps and I ran 106...

Pushup challenge is proving to be quite difficult. Those big sets with not much rest are HARD. Did 160, I think, today and barely finished (needed a couple of shake-out breaks). I feel stronger, but the endurance isn't there. Maybe I need to help it out with some high-rep, low weight lifting in between.

Kinda hill fartlek tonight on the mill. Threw in random climbs of anywhere from 1.5% (for a mile) to 10% (for 220 yards) throughout a 10K run, than did the last 0.25 at MP. Totaled 58:10 for the 10K; decent pace without pushing too hard. Other climbs were 3% (half mile), 6% (440), and 8% (440). Total vertical gain 474 feet. Glutes protested a little, but probably not more than they would have anyway on a slow 10K.

Also got in some mid-afternoon XT, upper body, abs, glutes and even some leg extensions. Hope that I can continue that through the summer and fall and really supplement the running, maybe get the glutes in shape so they calm down.

Took last night off with a case of PITA. Still there tonight, but manageable enough that I decided to do an easy run on the track, and felt OK to bump it up from 4 miles to 70 laps (5.28). Pace was probably mid-9ish, although I didn't wear a watch and couldn't tell from the clock on the far wall because of the glare. But the glute behaved itself, sorta.

Finished rounds early and managed an uninterrupted 6 on the mill at MAFC after lunch. Started slow for about 4.5, worked up and did the last 880 at MP. Glutes felt better when I finished than they've felt in a while. I'm sure they'll be quite stiff at 4:30 tomorrow, but for now, almost normal. Encouraging. I might even break down and buy my plane tickets to Utah this weekend.

Up at 4:30 a.m. to meet a couple of WAR members for a run around Chaffee. Temp in the 80s, humidity brutal, no breeze, glute uncooperative -- not a pleasant morning. Company was nice, run wasn't. Then I had to go to work. Man, do I need a nap. But I HTFU and got it done. They kept going and did another 7. I'm not sure I could have, if I'd had the time. I felt worse than last week and the weather was about the same. Maybe I'll get in 14-16 on Monday at Altman. I need to, anyway.