Thundering Intervals

Literally. I noticed a little heat lightning as I started out this morning, but was determined I'd get my intervals in this morning so I could get a light run in this afternoon before finalizing my packing and getting to bed early for the 3:30 am wake up to get to the airport.

1 mile warmup and then 4 x 1 at 7:00 pace was the plan.

Mile 1 - 6:53

Mile 2 - 7:14

Mile 3 - 7:46

Mile 4 - 6:34

OK, again not good pacing but average was 6:53 and I got 8 miles in in 1:02:52 which pleases me. By interval 3 the rain was starting and by 4 I was in a full thunderstorm...but I don't mind. Just kind of weird when it's dark and you're exerting that much it makes it hard to focus. Really messes with the mind.

Orientation went well. I got my books. Scares me because they are put together by the professor. Not just a pre-done textbook...means the guy is smart! Hopefully he's a good instructor. We had a little meet and greet session where I was talking to a girl who happens to be training for her first marathon in January, so I gave her my email and told her to keep in contact since we aren't in class together first semester. Speech by the Dean was very good. He isn't dry, had good humor and good things to say. Dinner was good, salad, wasn't crazy about the dressing so picked at it, but dinner was chicken and veggies and rosemary red potatoes, I was at a table seated next to the Dean and he said his mother wasn't there so he didn't have to eat his veggies!! A man after my own heart!! Dessert was a chocolate mousse in an edible chocolate cup...yummy!! Then we had a breakout session where they talked about the program, a professor and our advisor (each of us was in a room with our assigned advisor, there are 170 incoming 1st years), and we discussed an article we had been given to read, to simulate what classes might be like. An enjoyable evening and a part of me is kicking myself for not taking two classes...I'm almost thinking I should sign up for one more. I'd really only have one week of heavy running while having class as well...so it wouldn't be too terrible...I have a day or so to think about it...hmmm...

Thunderstorms are Cool!

What a great day! So I went to see my chiropractor today (have I mentioned that she is also a runner, ran in college, for U of MN, and runs marathon, including Boston) and she looked at my foot, touched all areas that would indicate PF and in her opinion it is NOT PF. There are tons of muscles and things there and most likely it was, like I have been saying it feels like, a bruise. She said to keep icing it and take it easy….after I told her that I was taking myself off rest, she was fine with that. She did berate me a tiny bit for the heels I was wearing (but agreed they were cute) and I promised to stay off heels for a while, even this weekend when out, so it’s given more rest. Anyway, I did have them do massage and ultrasound on it too, so hopefully that all help make it better.

Also, big congrats to my friends Andy and Hugh who ran the Boston Marathon today. They both had huge PRs…hills agree with them apparently and both had times that qualify them for Boston again next year (maybe they can be convinced to come with me next year) and Andy finished only 8 minutes or so behind Lance Armstrong, without speed work and went under 3 hours for the first time.

And to make things even cooler…we are in the middle of our first thunderstorm of the year!! I love thunderstorms…and nothing like rain (and 70 degree temps) to clean up and make things green.

I’ll try to update more tomorrow night. I’m traveling for work this week out east, work things on Wednesday and Thursday and then visiting a friend over the weekend…had I been smart I would’ve gone out the weekend BEFORE and watched the marathon yesterday…so dumb somedays!!