Thursday, 12:15 p.m., Liberty to Seneca and back on the bikepath, loop around Union College, Union Street to Erie to State, 5k. Cloudy, a coolish 60's, a little humid.
My decision to get off the bikepath and climb the gentle piece of Nott Street to Lenox was three-fold: 1. To break up the routine. 2. I needed a hill. 3. Apprehension that I might get Willard-ized by a pack of vengeful varmints (see Diary 6).
Dare I say I actually flirted with attack mode going up Nott. Then, coming down Union Avenue and Union Street to Seward, the slope, as always, carried me into a long stride that felt so good, I just let it happen. Friday was going to be my first day off since coming back, but I don't see how I can do that now. I could have run a few more miles today, easily, and barely would have felt it.
What is going on here?
If my next credit card bill shows up with a line that reads ...
Description: Pristine joints, removal of 5-year-old sciatica in right hip and plantar fasciitis in left heel, no pain in Achilles, spectacular weather.
Amount: Soul.
... I will gladly pay it. On time. I know I've only been back for a week, but with each passing day I feel more and more like Joe Hardy.
On top of that, I stopped by Brian DeBraccio's vegetable stand at the farmer's market and got some important and interesting news, and some great tips that I plan to use, so I pass it along to you. Brian is an avid marathoner - one of his claims to fame is a very long streak of completed Boston Marathons - and he is the finish line DJ for the Stockade-athon.
This was news to me: the starting time for the race has been moved from the traditional 10:30 a.m. to 9. This change is huge on several fronts, and was made at the behest of the city to get the road congestion cleared up earlier, Brian said. The 9 a.m. start will have a domino effect on race preparation, from when you go to bed the night before, when you get up and likely what you wear, since it will be cooler than usual (I get an extra hour and a half to make deadline, too. I owe somebody a beer).
The other development is a welcome one. They're putting some kind of weather-resistant wrap around the pavilion so that, not only will it be warmer and more inviting as a post-race refreshment center, but they can hold the awards ceremony right there, instead of making everybody hike up the hill to Central Park Middle School. Bravo, to whoever came up with this idea.
The tips Brian gave include buying a third pair of running shoes to use for the race. I have two pairs in really good shape that I alternate from day to day so the cushion has a chance to resurrect itself. An excuse to visit Fleet Feet. Works for me. At some point in October I will need to get in some long runs, and he warned that seven or eight miles wouldn't be enough, because you face that Bradley Boulevard hill pretty late in the race. His third suggestion, which I will start applying when I get back from vacation, is to train on dirt paths as much as possible to help prevent the foot problems I've experienced. Central Park, here I come.
Speaking of vacation, if the Irondequoit Town Hall beer garden on the Fourth of July was a recipe for disaster, this upcoming break has the potential to be the "Big Night" of disaster, with Ralph Wilson Stadium standing in for Il Timpano.
Here's what's on the feast:
Friday, Shamrock Jack's (dangerous); Saturday, babysitting my nephews in Buffalo (should be a safe spot); Sunday, Bills vs. Tampa Bay at the Ralph (scary); Monday, Dolphins on MNF in Rochester (toxic); Tuesday and Wednesday, golf with my brother (potentially lethal); Thursday, Sirsy at Gaffney's in Saratoga (will I even still be alive?); rest of the days, open for interpretation.
This will be another watershed moment. What I have going for me, off this ridiculously great week of training, is a fiercely proprietary attachment to how I feel and where I believe I'm headed. I really don't want to screw this up.
With that in mind, the next two Diaries will be a mid-term vacation report card on Tuesday or Wednesday, and a final report card on Monday, Sept. 28. Four subjects will be graded: diet, training, health, and peace of mind/overall quality of life. The last one harkens to my stance that all the work and diligence should be balanced by a firm belief that this is supposed to be fun, after all, and it's OK to have a beer or seven with your friends and family. I deeply admire the asceticism of the true hard-core athletes I've seen do great things at the Stockade-athon, but that ain't me.
Wildlife Watch: Rodent-free. Crickets. Just the blessed crickets.
