Oh No

Running wasn't even a possibility today. I woke up groggy from a night spent with a sick cat. I called Wendell's vet late last night and left a message to schedule an appointment. He'd taken a real turn for the worse over the weekend, and it's time for me to do something about it (I've been postponing the inevitable for almost three months now, and there's no sense in keeping an animal alive when they have such a poor quality of life). To make matters worse, my after effects of Saturday's polar run surfaced, making themselves more apparent as the day wore on, and I willed myself to stay at school for the remainder of the day through fits of coughing, a sore throat, fever, and all-around fatigue. At the end of the day, the last thing I wanted to do was shuttle Wendell out to Machias and drive all the way back home. I didn't feel too badly about not being able to run, though, as terrible as I felt. But tomorrow night I'll be sans cat and already in Machias for my first Folk Group meeting, and I'm sure a couple of hours of that will elevate me significantly (though I may have to run first; I don't want to risk having the gym close before the group disbands for the evening). It's 7:00, and I'm heading to bed.

Off day, but what a good day it was!

Today was unintentionally a zero-mile day, but arriving at the gym was worth it for the hours spent before. I went to Machiasport for lunch with a former classmate, Bruce, and talked music for several hours. The food was wonderful, the house cozy and inviting, the dogs two of the best I've ever met (I'm not generally a dog person, but these two were so sweet and calm and quiet, and so silky! Pure-bred desert sheep dogs - in other words, mutts), and the company delightful. Bruce taught me how to play a little ukulele, which I quickly picked up, finding it so much simpler than guitar. As a result of the little lesson and the rousing singalong that ensued ('Across the Universe' and 'When I'm Sixty-Four' from the Beatles, 'Tired of Waiting for You' by the Kinks, 'Friend of the Devil' from the Grateful Dead, 'Moonshadow' by Cat Stevens, and 'Darling Ukelele Maid', a little ditty from the '20s), I decided to join the renowned Ukulele Club, a local institution.

My ill-fated trip to the gym, however, was not in vain...I was met by throngs of people spilling out of the doors, causing me to worry that I'd arrived too late (I'd forgotten to check the hours and I might have guessed that, it being a Sunday, it may close earlier). A basketball game had just finished, and who should I run into but the leader of the Ukulele Club, himself - Gene Nichols. I was thrilled to tell him that I'd just taken up the instrument and was going to join the club. Then, as I went to go use the exercise facility, I was dismayed to see the doors closed and lights off. I had psyched myself out for a 10 miler today, so energized was I feeling, but hopefully I can transfer that to tomorrow's run.

Oh, frigid misery!

Well, I did something, at least. It was deceptively cold outside today. I was severely underdressed for my outing and neglected to wear my fleece hood. I elected to run north on Rt. 1 with the wind at my back. Had I chosen to run against the wind when I started, I doubt I would've made it as far as I did - a meager 1.5 miles out for a total of three. On the way back the wind was so strong I imagined I'd make just as good time if I dropped down and crab-walked my way back home, but I kept running, if only to get myself home as quickly as I could. At one point I switched to the opposite side of the road where there was slightly more sunlight, and then proceeded to run backwards for about 100 yards just to keep the brutal winds off my exposed face. I'll probably look like I've had a chemical peel for the next couple of days, but in the name of running...

I made it back, still finishing in 30 minutes, which was better than I would've guessed. My lungs are going to be feeling it tonight and tomorrow. I'm going to drink some hot tea, slather lotion or bacon grease or whatever moisturizing substance I find first all over my face, then maybe take a nap - that is if the blustering wind outside doesn't keep me away. I'm afraid it's going to rip the front off of my building.

So it may be another day back at the gym tomorrow, as I'm going to be heading out that way anyway, and don't know how much daylight time I'll have as it is. After today, running in the comfort of a heated building with a fan gently blowing on me sounds nothing short of luxurious.

Eric, I don't know how you did it today. Mad props.

Treadmill running

I was deterred by the cold snap the set in today, wimped out on going for an outdoor run, but kept the faith and resolved to drive the 38 miles to the gym. As I drove south the snow that had been barely visible at home became more intense and I worried that I'd have to lodge at the Machias Motor Inn overnight, but I stuck to my guns and kept driving. I'd surely have to put in more miles to make up for the treacherous trip down. I had a better attitude about treadmill running - probably just because I was pleased with myself for making a real effort to fit in a Friday run no matter what - I selected a machine with a view of the television that was airing a basketball game. Without my glasses I could just make out that it was an NBA game; if it's not college basketball when teams from the ACC are playing (namely Duke or NC State), it's not worth watching. Still, the sound of the game graciously drowned out much of Beyoncée (if I hear about how I need to "put a ring on it" one more time...) and Katy Perry (what's the fuss all about? Totally don't get it. Gross). I set the pace for a 9:49 minute mile, a comfortable warm-up, and as the pace grew easier I quickened the speed, rounding out my 6.3 mile run at an 8:47 mile. Tonight I focused on my stride, lifting my knees higher (I've seen in photographs of my few races that I barely bend my knees at all and, if I didn't know any better, I'd think I was speed-walking). So my experience at the gym had improved greatly from two nights before. I may've stayed longer, but it closes at 9 and there wasn't much time left. Maybe I'll go back tomorrow.

I'm a little sore now, but I guess that's to be expected since I just readopted my running regimen. This time next week all of that soreness will have disappeared and I'll be back in the game.

Winter training

I'm in the early stages of training for my third marathon, to take place this spring, and I need to be more disciplined this winter than I was last (though I ran almost daily in the balmy Maryland weather while visiting for Christmas, I put in somewhere between 2 and 5 runs in Maine from November to March. Yikes). With the weather reaching sub-zero temperatures lately, it's been difficult to pull myself from the warmth of my apartment - even to go to work - but I've supplemented my normal cardiovascular activity with vigorous jump-roping inside. Better than nothing. Last night I decided to bite the bullet and run on the treadmill at the gym at the University of Maine at Machias where I'm a part-time student (the music department there is wonderful!). I don't think I've been on one of those machines in eight years or more, and I was reminded of why I've steered clear for as long as I have. One of the things I love about running is the ground that you cover, the sights that you see, realizing the little things you miss when you travel in an automobile, and the act of treadmill running completely obliterates all of those subtleties. Nevermind the fact that the UMM gym attendants had Border 102.9 (see also: Unoriginal Pop for Nondiscerning Listeners), putting purchasing ipod high up on my list of things to do. 3 miles passed unbearably slowly and I struggled with my stride and focal points, trying not to slip and fall and have my knees worn away by the conveyor belt as I did when I was eleven. Today I braved the cold and put in a very pleasant 4.5 miles along Route 1. I'll save the treadmill for when there's no option of daylight running...