Back at it

Here's the enormous skipjack that is newly inlaid on the front entranceway of our remodeled elementary school. It's about 8 feet across. I think it's pretty cool! The skipjack is the state boat of Maryland and indigenous to local waters.

In workout news, I'm getting back to it slowly after 10 complete days off for this bout of bronchitis. At least it didn't turn into pneumonia like it did last spring (and did this time for my daughter Elisabeth) and cost me even more training time! On the two days that the girls had school this week I got in a couple of runs, and this morning I had a nice easy 30-mile bike ride. Haven't done much swimming to speak of either, since I've had a very cranky shoulder that I was hoping would recover with rest.

Much more to come next week! Taking it slow for now and I'll crank up the speed a bit next week, if I'm able.

PS: I hope all my peeps who are in the path of Hurricane Gustav are taking sensible precautions and evacuating! I'll be watching the news carefully - I hope it doesn't turn out nearly as bad as it looks right now!

Back in the saddle

Lovely weather today for a 26.2-mile ride on Buttercup, my first workout after 8 complete days off. My training buddy Dave was nice enough to drive over to join me. I took it easy (my heart rate meter is broken, but I think I kept it under a 150 bpm effort) and just rode steadily (despite some serious winds) and we ended up with an average only 0.1 mph less than a week ago Sunday when I was riding harder but coughing my fool head off at the same time.

I've decided to skip the 10k race this weekend (too much stress on the lungs too soon) and instead just ride my bike over to the race site (about 20 miles by road out on the next peninsula south of here) and enjoy the pancake breakfast with my running friends after the race. Then I'll take the ferry home (7 mile return leg). That should be a nice little ride!

Our Biggest Loser challenge this week is to ride 25 or 50 miles. Yeah, I think I can do that without going too hard. (Oh yeah, I just attained the 25-mile level, didn't I?) Unfortunately I had to skip the 3500 calories of exercise challenge last week.

Seven days makes one weak

Seven days with no workouts except some mild walks. First time I've managed that in a LONG time. It's been surprisingly difficult, even though I haven't had much energy.

Pneumonia seems to have finally receded this morning - woke up without coughing fits for the first time in weeks. The sinus infection still seems to be present, though.

Three more days of antibiotics, but probably no workouts today either except maybe a walk or jog on the treadmill at the local Y branch since it's raining HARD outside. No, I won't melt, but I'm not going to tackle rainy runs until I'm 100% again.

Wondering whether I can manage to slowly walk/jog one of my favorite 10Ks of the year this coming Saturday in the lovely waterside hamlet of Oxford, Maryland, a short ride over the Tred Avon River on the ferry. Best part is the pancake breakfast after.

I may bounce back after all

I was concerned about my fifth half marathon in my series of five for my 50th year, after last Saturday's crappy run.

But today I did a timed 5K in 33:47 while keeping my heart rate under 165 bpm, which is a sustainable pace for me.

If I could keep that up for 13.1 miles it would get me a 2:22 half marathon, which would be a PR by 4 minutes. That's not terribly likely, but it's not impossible, either.

I'm just glad I can run again without my heart rate going through the roof or coughing out nasty things.

On to the inaugural Bridge to Bridge Half Marathon on Saturday!!

RWS: Running While Sick

It is very foolish to lie awake at night from convulsive coughing and still envision doing Yassos (half-mile running intervals) the next morning. Yet that is what I did. I thought a little speed work would be a perfect tune-up before my last half marathon in my series of five, which will happen 7 days from now.

I warmed up for a mile through the neighborhood, then cranked up the pace for the first half-mile interval. At approximately 0.38 miles into that interval, according to Garmin, the whole plan came crashing to a halt. You can see the tattered remains of my grandiose plan below: five slow miles slogged out just to get it done, with a stupidly high heart rate.

When you're sick, you're sick. Somehow I always forget that.




At least I got my 4 new azalea bushes planted afterward, all ready to weather the impending 20-year nor'easter which is going to make the 2007 Boston Marathon more fun than a barrel o' monkeys on Monday. 26.2 miles in 19-21 mph headwinds in 37 to 40 degrees!? What could be more fun than that!?