outskirts: life and times in charlottesville

Tomorrow morning is the last run of the season here in central VA. The only other one is on July 4th. I guess there are no humans around here during the rest of the summer. The locals are rather rich and jet off to Europe for the summer. In September some runs get going again.

I’ll take a shot at the half marathon tomorrow. In prior years they just did one identical shirt for the half/full marathon. This year they have different shirts. I guess some felt slighted by others. Fulls are better than halfs.

In the 10 miler (record number of runners) I ran it in 78 minutes. 4 minutes slower than last year, but with my lack of running this spring, and deathly stress from work I’m somewhat amazed I survived. My longest run since the marathon last November was a mere 3 days ago…9 miles at a 9:46 pace. I picked up the pace a bit for the race

Now time to nap.

I ran the Run for Life 5k this weekend. I got there rather late and after getting registered I had 30 seconds to get my number pinned on my chest and get to the start line. I’d been in DC for most of the week and hadn’t exercised at all (other than miles of walking). Morning of race… No warm up. No water. No breakfast. No nothing….except for 4 martinis the night before. Needless to say, the run didn’t go very well. Right around 22:40. My thighs still hurt a bit. Not a good sign.

The 10 miler is this coming weekend. Everyone in C-Ville runs it. I haven’t yet registered. I wonder if they have sold out of bibs. I’ll try to register, but if not possible I’ll just run my standard 10 mile course that morning…which just happens to follow that same course If I can get under 88 minutes I’d be happy. That would be my worst time ever in the race. I’m really not in very good running shape right now. Oh well.

I’m down to 157. Slowly working down to 150. I don’t feel very lively though. I think it is spring allergies that do nothing but make me tired every spring. A few sneezes…but 99% is a body attack. Fall is the sneezing season for me.

The running season here in the village got started with a 5k on Saturday morning. It was a pretty good temperature, but the wind was rather gusty. For my first timed run of the year I came in at 22:30. Not great…but under 25, so I get to live for another year (first year I can’t get done in under 25 is when it all ends).

Upcoming races: MJ8k, Run for Life, 10 miler, half/full marathon (not sure if I want to try the full one over the hills around here), and the Kiwanis 5k. That takes it to July 4.

I signed up for the NYC marathon and hope I get in via the lottery. Will try to run one or two other marathons this year…but I really should go see the knee guy in town one of these days.

As for my weight loss gameplan. Last Saturday I weighed in at 163. Now down to 160. Working towards 150. I see a salad for lunch tomorrow…plus a run, since it will be 70 degrees (sure is tough in the winter here…has snow day written all over it).

I’d post some news from the village…but lordy…nothing ever happens here. I really wonder why local news folks don’t all flip due to boredom. I bet alcoholism is really high among them. More on this topic on another day. Boredom has drained my brain.

Will we hit the big 70 tomorrow or Tuesday? There is a good chance. I haven’t done much exercise since I ran the marathon in November. I’m feeling totally out of shape. Tomorrow will be the first time I’ve run in a long time. A really slow five miles is the plan.

Since spring has arrived it is time to start getting back in a regular routine. There are always more windmills to attack. One marathon…not the last. Speaking of the last marathon, my toenail that got toasted in that one is days away from giving up its fight, and is about to jump off my toe. Just the back corner is still hanging on.

So who is really grossed out now?

My first marathon is just around the corner. Saturday morning I’ll see if my body feels lively enough to run 26.2 miles. I’ve been training since July and my iPod tells me I’ve done about 460 miles since then. The longest official race I’ve ever done is a half marathon. My longest training run was just under 22 miles. This week I’ve been drinking lots and lots of water.

My goal is to finish in less than four hours. Guess I’ll know if I succeeded by noon on Saturday. For those that know me you can try to search for me on the Live Results page (not sure if my times will show up in the quick search during the race, or if you have to sign up for the live tracking).

If I live through the journey I’m sure I’ll let you know about my time by Sunday when I’ll get to watch the Dolphins attempt to win their first game of the year. First marathon. First win? Could both happen this weekend?

Still working on getting ready for my first marathon. I did a bit of a low mileage week since my body decided it wanted a bit of a rest. Next weekend I’m probably going to go for my first 20 mile run. Today was a very slow 15.

Time to run out of town for a bit of time. Grant Park and Bears..oh my.

I continue trying to get in shape for the Richmond marathon in mid-November. I did a 15 mile run this morning at a 9:51 pace. I still have tremendous fear about the full marathon. If only I was 20 years younger, or was fit. Ugh.

Football season has arrived. The NFL preseason has ended and I’m sure Dolphins will go to the Super Bowl The U of Virginny is taking on that powerhouse Wyoming today. If they don’t win by 35 it will be indicative of yet another mediocre team, although I have a feeling with their very weak schedule they will easily make it to a bowl game and get then get crushed.

Michigan scored a TD in no time at all on their first drive, but then let a really fast little guy catch a pass and sprint away from the entire D. Will Appalachian State score again and make it a fun game? Or will it end up as a blowout. I’m going to go with the latter.

My marathon training rolls along. I rolled over the 100 mile mark on my iPod this week (I may make it over 16k on my 2001 car later this month!). My long run of the week last weekend was 13 miles. I’m heading up to 14 tomorrow at a very slow pace. 26 still sounds intimidating.

Update: Wow. The Appalachian’s pulled out one of the biggest upsets in the history of college sports. What a game. A pity the U of M season has ended already.