Limited ZZZZZs and A Thppppt! Training Run

Run 1: 2 miles in approximately :13:27 min. @ 7:00 a.m.

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 53°F, 93% Humidity, Winds: SW @ 5 mph; feels like 53°F.

Pace: 6:44 min./per mile avg.

Thank goodness for dog-walking and running this morning.

For the first time in nearly two months, I did not sleep well last night. I’m not sure exactly what to attribute this restlessness to, but waking up at 4:00 a.m. brings me back to the school year… during which time I would frequently pull myself from slumber following a noise or a twist, followed by the appearance of an idea (about anything—some good, most terrible and unnecessary) that would pop into my head and “peck” me until I would get up and work it. The final outcome would often be my adjusting my lesson plan or activity for the day in some creative way (though ultimately possessing no more meaning to the student than had I simply gone with what was originally intended).

Yesterday, I began toying with school work (what novels to read, how to possibly tweak some management systems, what supplies do I need because the school won’t provide them) for the coming year, which begins in three weeks, so perhaps this has triggered those terrible nighttime brain spasms. Great.

At a little before 6:00 a.m., I was sitting in the living room reading a book (Kid Rodelo by Louis L’amour) when our neighbors painter began working the house with a powersander. He has been “painting” this house since (no exaggeration) late June and so I took the dog for a walk conveniently by the house and asked him politely that “it is really early for all this noise.” The painter shrugged his shoulders and carried on.

Turning the corner, I noticed that the noise had been discontinued. Gracie and I then did a quick loop around the neighborhood (a two-bagger for Gracie!), content in knowing we’d calmed ourselves and the noise.

After a “Recovery Day” yesterday, I ran a two mile intersperse with 40 meter sprints (fartlek)… it felt good to be on the road…

Run 2: 2 miles in approximately :25:00 min. @ 6:30 p.m.

Weather: Sunny, 78°F, 36% Humidity, Winds: WSW @ 8 mph; feels like 79°F.

Pace: :12:30 min./per mile avg.

Anne and I went for a lovely run together this evening and given the cooler temps and conversation, the time passed quickly…

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!