It's Wednesday lunchtime and I'm sitting here glad that today is an "off" day for me. My legs and butt are stiff and sore. I really haven't kicked up my running so it's tough to figure out why the soreness . . . maybe the fact that I bowled at lunch AND last night. Not that bowling is a demanding game but it does bring into play different muscles. Anyway, all I have planned today is to help Susan cut her grass, if it doesn't rain.

okay-let's talk running.

Monday was a hot, humid day. Duh. It's Alabama and the end of July. Of course it's hot you big dummy! I went home straight after work and cut grass. I figured that would let me acclimate a little bit to the heat and maybe let it cool down a couple of degrees. No such luck. Regardless, I did a 4 miler and felt pretty dang good about. It did take me about an hour to cool off afterwards. Susan came over and we went to one of our favorite local Italian eateries for dinner.

Tuesday was oppressive. Fortunately, there were lots of clouds and thunderstorms popping up afterwork which meant shade and wind. The downside is that these storms pop up quickly and you can get caught in lightning if you're not paying attention. I started out wanting to get in 4 miles but it was thundering and the temp was dropping . . . sure signs a storm was coming. I made it about 2 1/2 miles before the lightning got close enough to chase me home. So be it . . . 2 1/2 miles and survive to run another day.

Hey all. Monday lunch and just catching up on the blogging. I was out of town on vacation at the beach since last Wednesday. The vacation is detailed on MY HOT GIRLFRIEND site.

I am proud that I kept up with my running while at the beach. Thus I have completed three weeks of 4 days a week running! woohoo! an accomplishment!

I ran 2 1/2 on Tuesday afternoon prior to going to the beach on Wednesday.

I ran about 4 1/2 miles Thurday morning. 1 mile with Susan and then 3 1/2 at my pace. While at Seaside, I normally run to Grayton beach and back but decided to go in search of a loop through Water Colors. Since my last visit Water Colors resort has opened up the road between 1st and 2nd sector which means there is a very nice loop with lots of scenery. There is also a good water stop at the tennis complex in Water Color about half-way which is also very good since it was HOT!

I repeated Thursdays run on Saturday morning though it was much hotter and I ran a little slower. However, I was very happy with the outcome.

Also, while at the beach, Susan and I did some recreational biking.

I am now back in town and ready for another week of running and plan on adding a mile or two total for the week.

Scorcher

Oh yeah. It's July in Alabama and it's only going to get hotter. Summer has finally settled in on B'ham and we really got to see what is in store for the next 4-6 weeks. It was hot this weekend but we decided to kick it up a notch today. Depending on sources, we were either at 98, 99, or 100 and that is air temp. I think I saw an index of 104 and 105 late this afternoon. My handy dandy atomic clock/thermometer told me it was 99.6 in the shade right before I went out for my run. For the fun of it, I put an oven thermometer on the road in front of my house (asphalt) and by the end of my run it was over 115 degrees on the pavement. Beautiful time to go for a run, don't you think?

God is truly merciful . . . he takes care of children and morons. I think I fall in the second category. Of course, so does Dom "the Dominator" and Marc "the Animal" because all three of us were running around 5:30 this afternoon in this heat. I never had to call 911 and never heard an ambulances which means we all survived . . . I think.

Yep. Another notch in my belt-4 miles in some very hostile conditions. I turned on a small sprinkler on my dying flowers and ran through it each time I passed my house and unashamedly stood in it when finished. For the first time this year, I also carried a washcloth soaked in cold water which I rewet each time through the sprinkler. I know it sounds sort of wimpy but I'm glad I had the wet rag to squeeze over my very hot skull this afternoon. I ran about 1 1/2 miles with Animal and finally told him to go on . . . I could not hold his pace. I do not have a problem with that! I was strictly in survival mode and I won.

It's almost 9:30 and at last glance the temp was still well over 90 degrees. Maybe this means it will be another great, hot run tomorrow!

Horrible

Horrible. That's how it felt to me watching Greg Norman once again self-destruct. How can a man who was once the greatest player in golf let the demons inside his head banish him again to the realm of perennial losers? I have watched golf for many years and I have always admired his game and his swashbuckler style but today that played against him. And what about his caddie? Gosh, these guys are supposed to help keep their players head screwed on straight! It appears that Greg is an older version of Phil Mickelson . . . a basket case when the game depends on steadfastness. Congrats to Padraig Harrington for being repeat winner of the Open Championship.

Okay . . . running.

I competed my second week of 4 days a week. My mileage wasn't important but the pattern is once again being set. I ran 4 miles Saturday around lunchtime. Yes, when the temp was really soring into the low-mid 90s. Afterwards I cut the grass and worked around in the yard. I got WAY TOO hot and should have known better. I was drinking lots of water and even had a Gatorade but couldn't keep it down. Yuck . . . nothing like warm Gatorade coming from the wrong direction. However, I kept sipping water and took it easy for a bit and ended up feeling okay. Went bowling with Susan and the girls late in the afternoon.

I am looking forward to my third week of full schedule running.

My buddy Dom noticed the absence of the NYC Marathon countdown timer. Yes, I am going to bail for several reasons- I am not in shape enough to even begin a 16-20 week program, I am really reluctant to travel with the economy being the way it is, I am trying to save vacation days because I've been using them too loosely and I like to make sure I keep a few extra free, just in case.

Everyone have a great week!

Friday lunch. Not too much longer to go until another brief weekend rolls by. I was in early today (5:45 am) so I'm blowing this joint by 3. That will let me run by Wally world to pick up dog food, trash bags, and other miscelaneous items.

I am starting to establish a pattern in my running once again. Since vacation I've managed to get four days in last week and should be able to get four days in this week. I ran a 4 miler on Monday and it felt pretty good. Wednesday was a quick 2 1/2 miler to avoid rain and to have dinner with Susan. Thursday I did another 2 1/2 miler and then walked 9 holes so my legs got a good workout. Until I get stronger, my two days in a row will be comprised of shorter runs just to get the body used to it. Don't worry . . . I'll be bumping the mileage up in another couple of weeks. My plan is to do at least 5 miles sometime tomorrow. I'd prefer to do it in the morning but I promised that I'd go with Susan to pick MAC up from camp in the morning. Either I'll have to do it EARLY or later in the day when it is hot. We'll figure something out.

Random thoughts-
The Open Championship is this weekend (the British Open for those of us in the US). Very fun to watch since this is more what God intended golf to be. It's fun to watch the primadonna country club boys get frustrated with the wind, rain, and chilly temperatures.

Speaking of the Open, at 52 years young, Greg "the shark" Norman is atop the leaderboard after two rounds. Some of my friends are goofy and do not like international players. Personally, I am glad to see the shark doing well and playing as if he were 20 years younger. I figure the golf gods owe him this once since he's been robbed by the fates on so many other occasions. 52 years old-goes to show that we should never give up.

Susan has gotten orthotics. Now all she has to do is get back to running! Maybe I can get her out this weekend.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Weekend is almost over

and I have not accomplished a whole lot. Let's see- I ran3 miles Wednesday afternoon at Susan's house. It was a hot and humid afternoon. Nothing spectacular, just a easy, sweaty run. It took me an hour to cool off before we went out for dinner. Another one of those summers where I just stand in the shower and sweat. I hate that.

Thursday my legs were killing me and I wanted to can the run. However, I toughed it out and did 2 1/2 miles before the thunderstorms hit. 3 days in a row . . . quite an feat for the fatman but I was definitely feeling it.

Friday was a rest day, thank goodness.

Saturday morning ran 4 mile and Susan biked the same. We're both struggling to get back into it and it's helpful to have someone who will hold you accountable. After the run, we worked in Susan's yard most of the day-cutting grass, cleaning out flower beds. The big feat of the day was digging out an old stump of a tree in one of her flower beds. Not a small one either. Fortunately, it was half rotten and once I got dug down around the base, the roots chopped rather easily. After much grunting, prying, cussing, sweating, we got the stump out of the ground and rolled it down to the road.

Sunday was a rest day. My back was feeling the yard work and was grateful for a good night's sleep. We went to church and then I headed home to work in my yard. I cut grass, cleaned flower beds, pulled weeds, etc. A pretty good days work until the rain set in. It was nice to have an excuse to shower up and sit down in front of the idiot box for a little while. Susan is coming over later with her youngest, E. She's bringing some s'ghetti and I'm ready for it! All I've had to day is a bowl of cereal and I am HUNGRY.

I know that I have to finish up posting about our trip to Williamsburg and hope to complete that tomorrow during lunch.

Hope you've had a great weekend!

Home at last

Don't get me wrong . . . I like vacations. However, 8 days away from work is enough. I like order and structure and after 8 days of disorder and sloth, I was ready to become a bum. Nothing against bums, I just don't want to be one. The problem is that I don't want to come home when I'm gone this long. And I don't want to work anymore! I start thinking about career changes . . . . maybe I can sell tie-dye shirts or run a slushy stand. You know, that kind of stuff. Now I'm back at my desk, happily working in my structured world.

I failed to do any running while on vacation. However, we walked everyday . . . lots of walking. My guess is at least 2-3 miles every day. I know it's not running but it is exercise and I actually found little time for my selfish indulgence.

I did get back on the horse yesterday. I only ran 2 1/2 miles. It was around 6:30 and the temperature was still in the low 90s. Rumor was that it close to 100 degrees in parts of B'ham yesterday. It felt like it-whew! My plan is to just do some short jaunts during this week just to get reaclimated to the weather since it was cooler in Virginia.

Trip details will be or are on My Hot Girlfriend site.