Why A Bad Run Can Be A Good Thing

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Thank you, God, for keeping me humble...

This was the refrain going through my mind yesterday morning as I struggled to complete the last 20-mile run of my training. And struggled is the word. I knew I was in trouble around mile 14 when I started slowing on what was already a slow pace day. All I had to do was hold an 8:50 pace. At this point in my training, that should be a no-brainer. But glances at my Garmin showed me my pace was creeping up to an 8:52... 8:55. I'd speed up to lower it back down but it's fighting a losing battle at that point as the speeding up sucks any remaining energy from you. 

I was having a hard time mentally with the fact that the run wasn't going well. Lately I've been not only nailing my paces  for runs but often beating them. I wanted to end this last long run on a high note. Instead, it was a reality check.

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The Married Life: Tracking Devices Optional

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THE SCENE: Last Saturday, upstairs in Blair's office. Blair is happily typing away at his laptop when I fling myself into the chair beside his desk. It's a few minutes before I leave for my long run and I know Blair is heading into town later that morning for a haircut.

"What phone are you taking today?" I ask. "Your blackberry or cell phone?"

"I don't usually carry a phone with me on the weekend," said Blair.

"I know," I said. "So my question is, which one will you be carrying today?"

"Ah. I see," he said.

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Pass the Duct Tape - 23 Days Until The Chicago Marathon

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It's 23 days until the Chicago Marathon and I've resorted to bribing my body to hold it together. "Stay healthy, sweetie, and Mommy will buy you some pretty new matching underwear for after your race!" type thinking. 

The body is starting to, if not exactly fall apart, show some wear and tear at the seams. The right leg pinching I had last year is back with a vengeance although, thankfully, it rarely hurts when I run. I rolled my right foot earlier this summer and there's some lingering tightness there. My left bicep (WTF??) feels like there are tendons tangled up in it and it's getting harder to raise the arm above my head. 

None of it is debilitating or prevents me from running.

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A Happy Ending: Almost Jack Finds His Forever Home

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Remember Almost Jack? The starved puppy my friend Dawn found on the side of the road? Almost Jack has been given a second chance at life. Hooray!! Here's Dawn's description of Almost Jack's (now known as Colin Jack) new life:

Almost Jack was adopted by a single mother and her four-year-old daughter who just moved from Greensboro to a place out in the country in Summerfield. The mom has been involved in pulling dogs out of high kill shelters in the past.  Colin will belong to the daughter.  Mom bought the daughter a bunk bed so the little girl can take the top bunk and Colin can have the bottom.  The girl picked a Tinkerbell comforter for him to sleep on, and got him matching collar and lead so he would be color coordinated.  

The mom took in another dog recently that had been pulled and then refused by the rescue group.  I had kept him for a few days while they were moving, and when Roth showed up at her new place he marked several places in her house.  She did not get upset, simply asked me what the best way to curb it was.  I was impressed with that – she understood he was just doing dog things, and that he’d have to be taught.  She called me the next morning and told me that Colin, Roth and her two dogs had all slept in the bed with her and they hadn’t had any trouble at all.  I bet Colin thought that was GREAT!  He’s probably never felt anything that soft before!

Colin’s biggest problem now is that he is going to be REALLY spoiled.  They have invited me to stop by any time and see him.  I told her I really wanted to see what he looked like when he grew up.  She and I have been e-mailing pretty regularly, and looks like we’re going to end up friends, so I should be able to watch him grow up.