You're not welcome here
It's cold and dark in the early morning as two runners, running together for the first time, search for a public restroom one mile into the scheduled two 2.85-mile laps around a park and community center in mid-town Tucson.
Community Center - just off the path (2 minute detour): janitor cleaning the window refuses to open the door to let two runners in to use the bathroom, which they can see, but can't use.
Circle K #1 - just across the street (2 minute detour): no public restrooms.
Circle K #2 (5 minute detour) - off the path, plus across a street: no public restrooms, but Walgreen's might have one.
Walgreen's - across the other street, away from the path, jumping over fences (2 minutes from Circle K #2): restrooms closed, but Denny's might be open.
Denny's - even further down the street away from the path, through an obstacle course of a parking lot and fast-food drive-thrus (5 minutes from Walgreen's): OPEN!
Finally, a restroom - way off the path, but it doesn't matter. Besides, that'll help make the run six miles!
Total miles: 6.25. Before work - yay!
****
So my knees appear to be okay so far this week. I did an ice bath on Sunday after the 16-miler; rested Monday; took a slow easy 2 on Tuesday; foam rolled Wednesday; ran 4.25 at lunch with Paki, climbed 2.75 on the stairmaster at the gym and then foam rolled on Thursday; and ran 6.25 this morning. I can feel it - but in a good way. I've been sick, but so far - knock on wood! - it's been a slight cold. I've been taking care of myself by eating well, taking zinc and trying to rest (although I only got four hours sleep last night).
I'm hoping for 4 miles at lunch today - I'd really like to get a total of 10 today, that'd be awesome - but I need to monitor my health/tiredness. I'll be spinning tomorrow morning, running 3 with Barb on Sunday morning and possibly doing another 3-5 miles Sunday night. I'm really happy with how well my training is going this week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it keeps up!
Last night, Chris and I joined Barb and other friends at Spirit of the Marathon. After 15 minutes of technical difficulty, it finally came on. I really enjoyed it, even though I've technically never run a marathon, and I don't usually run on pavement, or do races with thousands of people. As a runner, I can still identify with training, preparations and neurotic tendencies shared across the board. All I could think about at the end, though, was the look of pain on people's faces when they hit the "wall." Geez, these people are hurting this badly on a flat, paved 26.2 miles - and I'm signed up for a 32-mile trail run with huge amounts of elevation gain! Yikes! :)
___
UPDATE
Another great account of the run I did on Sunday (only he went farther than I did!), with fanTAStic photos: check it out!
Comments
Yeah, but you know as well as I do that it is so much easier to run further on trails than pavement!
I'm so glad you aren't getting the full blow sickness. Sounds like the training is going great Angie! Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Pinkcorker | February 22, 2008 07:41 AM
Angie, when I was a mountain biker we would occasionally do "urban guerrilla mountain biking" when we couldn't hit the trails. Your run sounds like an "urban guerrilla run" to me :-). Glad to hear the trainings going well. And, as far as the marathon goes, I have only done one in my life and it was way more painful than any of the ultras I have done since including 100 milers.
Posted by: Steve Ansell | February 22, 2008 08:03 AM
Oh Crap. I missed the movie AGAIN.
As for your BR hunt...I would have been tempted to squat in the community center parking lot. That might have gotten him to unlock the doors. :D
Posted by: Juls | February 22, 2008 11:17 AM
yeay, good you're back at it and the knees are cool with that.
Posted by: benson | February 22, 2008 11:35 AM
That's what bushes are for - to go behind! Wait, do you have bushes in AZ or is that a WA phenomena?
Posted by: backofpack | February 22, 2008 03:44 PM
I wanted to see the movie, but I missed it - both times (bummer). I heard it was good. Maybe they'll show it again.
Glad to hear your cold hasn't progressed, and it looks like you're getting in some good mileage.
Peeing behing cacti is definitely no fun (I'm a desert rat, too - I know from experience :)
Posted by: Carilyn | February 22, 2008 06:17 PM
Glad the knees are holding up! Your training is really coming along. Keep it up! (with good rest too) : )
Posted by: Sarah | February 22, 2008 08:21 PM
Dennys! Breakfast, yum.
Posted by: darrell | February 22, 2008 08:25 PM
That is what I enjoyed about the movie as well. The OCD part that we all share no matter how far we are running.
Posted by: Javamom | February 22, 2008 09:07 PM
Ohhhh, I'm glad you got to go see Spirit of the Marathon! (Yeahhh, it's not playing in Yuma).
&& don't be afraid of the grimace faces as people hit the wall... between your surgery and child you know pain. Zane Grey's got nothing on you! ;)
Posted by: Taryn | February 25, 2008 01:32 PM