I think when Hal Higdon designed his training programs it was prior to the days of overcommitted weekends. His program prescribes a Saturday Pace run followed by a Sunday long run. The training program that I have used before this one has only required a Sunday long run.
This morning I awoke at about 7 AM and just lay in bed listening to the rain coming down. I had been pushed to the very outer edge of the bed since our 7 year old came to join us at about 4:30 AM. I wasn’t comfortable, so why should I resist getting out of bed to go running. I knew that should not I let this opportunity pass; I might not get another chance to fit in the prescribed 5-mile run. My body was telling me to lie low; it is tired, my nose has been stuffy all night and my throat is sore.
I didn’t get out of bed. I just rolled to the floor about an hour and a half later knowing that I’d missed my opportunity. The rain was now falling lightly, but baseball tryouts were to be starting soon for BoBo. YaYa’s tryouts were not scheduled until 11 AM, and would last about 1 hour. It would be enough time to do my run in the area but, since it was raining, this would not be possible today. I needed to be close by in case they were cut short.
By noon I was on the phone to the YMCA to inquire about their childcare hours. I’d be willing to do some time on the “mill” just to get the miles in. No luck with that; childcare closes in 30 minutes. Quickly, I warmed up a can of clam chowder, and spooned it into two bowls. The boys were watching a movie and eating as I went upstairs and put on my running clothes. I grabbed my GPS device to gauge the distance. I wasn’t hungry, but it was lunchtime after all, so I sucked down a GU gel, took some sips of water, and hit the rainy streets.
I hate driving in this weather, and running in the streets neighboring my house isn’t a time to be carefree. I felt on guard all of the time. I listened and watched the cars carefully to be sure nobody lost control in the rain. I ran on the sidewalks for most of it and just hoped that my legs would forgive me for it. It is just too much pounding. I made a wide loop that I hoped would total 5 miles. As I made the turn by the Safeway, I realized that I would be over if I did the entire planned route, so I cut through the neighborhood and headed for home.
Tomorrow, I am going to have to get up early to fit a 9-mile run into the day. It’s only going to get worse when baseball season gets going. I don’t like missing the boy’s games so I’ll have to figure something out.