Running The Race

Headed to the Y to swim at lunch. As I walked into the pool area, the lifeguards stopped me and said that the construction crew had just hit the water main and that they were going to have to shut off the water in 10 to 15 minutes. So more than likely there would not be any water to take a shower. I decided to go ahead and swim. At worst, I would just smell like chorine. So I did 4 x 200m intervals.

When you leave the pool area you have to walk through the showers to get to the locker room. To my surprise, there was water.

Maybe, they didn’t have to shut off the water after all. I got all soaped up and the water pressure dropped. By the time I got all the soap rinsed off, there was just a trickle of hot water. That was close!

Mowed the yard when I got home hoping it would cool down some before I ran….it didn’t. It was still in the 90′s when I headed out to run 5 miles.

After being out of the office for a week and a half, I spent most of the day reading emails. I deleted 221 emails before I started reading the 232 that were left. By the end of the day, I was caught up on the reading, but not the “to dos” that they created.

Made it to the Y at lunch and swam for 25 minutes. Since I am doing the Cedars of Lebanon Tri this weekend wanted to make sure I could cover the distance.

Today was the hottest day of the summer so far. It was in the upper 90s when I headed out the door around 4:30 to run 7 miles. Kept watch on my heart rate and didn’t push the pace. The goal was to finish.

Well, we are back in Tennessee from our annual beach trip. We left on the 11th and headed to North Carolina all 5 of us.

Spent the first night with Mom and Dad before heading to Kure Beach, were we go every year. There we met up with my brother and sisters and their families.

One of the things I find comforting about returning to the same place, year after year, is you know what to expect and can concentrate on the two important decisions, beach or pool and where to eat.

Did get in several runs and lots of good seafood. I tried to do some swimming but the pool was too small. One breath and I was at the other side.

The small town of Kure Beach was quieter than usual. From talking with the motel owner, they have really been impacted by the higher gas prices.

We left the beach on Thursday and rode the ferry across the Cape Fear River and spent the day shopping in Myrtle Beach before heading to Gayle’s Mom’s house to spend the night.

We made it back home Friday evening. After unpacking the car, I ran 4 miles….after riding for 9 hours, I needed to stretch my legs.

Saturday morning I got ran 15 miles and this morning Amy and I rode 21.

Ran 13 Miles this morning at mom and dads

Since today is vacation day one, I got to run this morning. It was a balmy 71 degrees with 91 percent humidity when I headed out the door around 6 this morning to run 8 miles. The humidity was oppressive and my legs felt dead from the ride Wednesday night. Pushed through, but I was wet from head to toe when I got home.

Swam 200m warm up and then did drills for the rest of my lunch hour.

This evening rode 17.5 miles with Amy.

Vacation starts tomorrow!

Made it to the pool at lunch today. Felt better than yesterday. Did 4 x 200 intervals. Then ran 5 miles when I got home this afternoon. It was a lot hotter than yesterday, 95 F. Needless to say, I was glad when I was done.

Have not signed up for the Cedars of Lebanon Triathlon yet. Stephen told me yesterday that he had decided not to go. The price goes up Thursday, so I need to decide soon.

As much as I enjoy my Sunday afternoon nap, I always seem to regret taking one because I tend to not sleep as well Sunday night.

I don’t know if it was waking up at 3 am and dozing until time to get up at 4:30 or I was just tired from the weekend, but after several laps in the pool at lunch, the fun was just not there. I didn’t stay very long but at least I got a few laps.

Scattered showers had moved into the area this afternoon and it was raining when I left the office. Of course, we didn’t get a drop at the house but at least it was overcast. So it wasn’t as hot as forecast, only in the mid-80s.

I must have gotten over the fatigue from lunch because I had a good solid 7 mile run.

Amy and I did Harpeth Bike Club’s “Pancake Ride” this morning. There were about 30 riders for the weekly ride to Puckett’s Grocery in Liepers Fork. It is 13 miles to the store of rolling hills with one short 14 percent grade hill around mile 10. At the bottom of the hill is a frowning face and there is a smiley face at the top.

I had not been in that part of the county before. I was really pretty. All of the hay fields had been cut and there were big golden rolls of hay all over the fields.

When we got the Puckett’s I only saw one person eating pancakes. Most were just hanging around. I brought us both a Cliff Bar. Amy was smoked by the ride out and asked if I had my phone if we need to call the “sisters” to come and get her.

Some in the group headed out for a longer ride but we went back with the main group.

Amy did great but I was starving by the time we got back since I didn’t get any breakfast. (Of course, I made it up at lunch.) It was a great 26 mile ride on a beautiful morning.

We had rain overnight but it had moved out of the area by 4 am this morning when I rolled out of bed. That was good. The bad part was the humidity was 93 percent! Needless to say, I was soaked from head to toe when I finished the 13 miles! Was a little stiff from yeasterday’s race but seems to warm up after the first mile or so.

All in all, it was a good solid week of training.

Training for the week
Sun: Rest
Mon: 7 miles – 1:02:17, 8:53 pace
Tues: 5 miles – 44:56, 8:59 pace, 800m swim
Wed: Swim Drills
Thur: 8 miles – 1:14:28, 9:18 pace
Fri: Firecracker 5K – 24:04, 7:40 pace
Sat: 13 miles – 2:05:41, 9:40 pace

Total for the week: 36 miles