Getting back to Boston

Got the new job started on Monday, and decided that my legs need a little help getting back into job shape, much less marathon shape. So I got up at 5:30 (yes, me, on a weekday) and ran three laps around Hunt Park, plus a lap around Lake Springdale, which worked out to 7.23. Took me about 1:09, a modest pace, but again, I've only run two days in the past two weeks.

Worked a half-day today, then drove three hours to Little Rock to appear before the Medical Board -- and my appearance was delayed by an hour as they ran late. Finally got in there, got out in three minutes, with a board vote in my favor (meaning I still have a job and a license), and drove back to Springdale.

Got a good night's sleep after getting back from LR, and work wasn't too bad today, so decided to get in an evening run. Basically repeated yesterday's run, with a little extra twist on two of the three laps through the park, so it came out to 7.38. Also ran it quite a bit faster than yesterday -- almost 7 minutes faster for 0.15 mile farther. Felt good to push the pace, really for the first time since the 5K PR on 9/5/09.

Only a half-day of work tomorrow, so will get in an early afternoon run, I guess. Maybe try to do 16 or so Saturday. Saturday should take me over 1900 miles for the year, in three-fourths of a year (in spite of a couple of URIs and the two wasted weeks due to the move to Springdale).

Ran 2.5 times around the Hunt Park loop -- backwards. Actually skipped the front corner of the loop on lap 2, hence the 2.5 (UNINTENTIONALLY, DUE TO GOING BACKWARD, I SUPPOSE). Dunno why I went into all-caps there, either. Anyway, legs slightly rubbery but not bad. Will try to do 16 or so tomorrow and get over 1900 for the year, topping my 2008 total in early October, nine weeks before my marathon. Also am getting out Pfitz this weekend and trying to devise a 9-week plan to get ready for Memphis, with probably some Hudson tweaks thrown in.

Down to the Fayetteville trails for my first LR in what seems like forever (actually it was August 29 at Pinnacle Mountain State Park). Started from the Mud Creek trailhead on Old Missouri Road, then down Scull Creek, then Frisco Trail, then turn around and do it all over again, with an extra loop on Joyce and Old Missouri as well as Mud Creek Trail at the end to get me up to 16 miles. Quads were barking from the start and they didn't get any better over two hours, 40 minutes. But I finished, and I kept the average under 10:00 in spite of some short walk breaks. I gotta quit doing 10 p.m. runs on Friday and then getting up to run at dawn the next morning; 48-year-old legs need more recovery than that.

There were a LOT of people out on the trail. No large gaggles of Crackheads like I'd see in LR/NLR, but twos and threes and fours. More runners than cyclists, I think, and plenty of walkers too. Their investment in the trails seems to be paying off in public use. And it was a beautiful, if chilly morning. Started off in the upper 30s, I think it was in the low 60s when I finished at 10:30. Not a cloud in the sky, but enough shade where the morning sun was not a problem as far as visibility.

Today marks a milestone: I topped 1900 miles for the year. That was my total for all of 2008, and I went over that mark with 89 days left in the year. I think 2600 is quite doable. Put together a 9-week training plan for Memphis last night, since today is 63 days to St. Jude. I should run about 550 miles before I line up in the corral at Memphis, if it goes according to plan.