Celebration Day

Today I was reminded that summer is ending very soon. Joshua had a kindergarten playgroup open to any incoming kindergarteners at his school. We went, and I met some parents. I don't think Joshua played with any of the kindergarteners. He did end up at the basketball court. That kid is so funny. He loves playing with older boys. He was the youngest kid on the court and having the greatest time. I had to drag him off the court when it was time to go.

So my summer bubble burst when I was talking with the other parents about school starting and teachers and whatnot. I'm starting to get that twist in my gut that I got as a kid on Sunday evenings when you'd realize the weekend was over and school was the next day. School is starting soon, and lazy summer days will be but a happy memory.

So, I often get that pit in my gut on Tempo days. We just did Tempo two weeks ago, but here we are again doing Tempo. Today, I didn't get anxious hours before or worry about it at all. My friend Sarah was starting Gazelles today, so I had all along planned to run Tempo with her at her pace. I'm the one that talked her into joining and running at 5:30pm in August heat. The least I could do is run with her, right?

I knew my time wasn't going to be faster than last time because it's so much hotter this go around - maybe 15 degrees hotter. I also physically didn't feel 100%. I was late to Runtex b/c traffic was horrid on Barton Springs. Everyone was gone on the warm up, and I ran alone and missed drills. I barely had time for a bathroom break before we were lining up. I tend to talk, so I missed Gilbert's instructions to the group. Turns out he told everyone to go slower and not try to beat our times from 2 weeks ago...just too hot for that.

I tell Gilbert (and everyone else) that I plan to run with Sarah. Gilbert karate chops that idea, so I ran with Kathie and Yvette. Everyone really was going slow except Guy and the young kids. I'm sure they were going slow for them though. We ran our first mile in about 10 minutes, which felt fine for the heat. Already though, I was off my prior Tempo pace.

Kathie was really hurting due to being sick and having 2 sick kiddos and about 4 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours. She was questioning why she came to class. After the turn around, I told Yvette to go on ahead. Kathie and I ran about 50-100m behind her. I wasn't in pain, but it was really hot. I had planned the entire run to walk up the hill by the 1/2 mile marker. Why kill yourself on a hot day when you aren't going to be close to your regular time anyway? I talked Kathie into walking, and it was bliss. If I had run up that hill, I would have been hurting the rest of the way to the finish (remember, I'm not feeling 100% today either).

We ran the last part at a nice slow pace and picked it up a bit after the Stevie Statue, but nothing like a big kick finish. I tried to think about the upcoming Fila Relays and pretended I was running that. It was so barking hot last year, so it's good to practice in the heat, I suppose. (That bark was for Guy and Kerri)

After the run, we did running form strides one at a time, so Gilbert could critique us. It was a nice time waiting in line. I got to chat with Sarah, Gayatri, Yvette, Kerri, etc. I guess I'll suffer through Tempo if I get to hang out with such a fine group of folks every Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Awwww...group hug.

So, Fila Relays in a few weeks. Blech. After last year, I said I was never, ever running a road race again. And I haven't. Maybe I have learned something this year, and I can enjoy the 2007 Fila Relays. The key for me is to not start out too fast. Oh, and maybe there will be less dust this year. And we can hope that it's not 105 outside. We can hope, right?

Tomorrow I'm taking Elijah and Joshua to Fiesta Texas. Elijah's free ticket from the school reading program expires tomorrow. See, I push the envelope in some situations. ;o)

Next Monday or Tuesday we are going to Los Angeles (we being me, the boys, and my cousin, Dawn). We are driving there in a Prius. I'm a little concerned about that. It's a small car and a long drive. Luckily, we are flying home. I'm putting this out publicly in the hopes that I stick to it: I will run while I'm there. I saying at least 2 runs but hopefully more.

I've been swirling some thoughts around in my head regarding running. I am wondering what people give up or neglect in order to run (bike, swim, train)? There are so many Gazelles who run every day (or twice/day). Training for longer distance races takes up huge chunks of time. And I'm wondering what people set aside for that time. I wonder if they notice if they are neglecting anything (anything being literally anything...people, job, house, family, friends, sleep, etc.). And the big question - is it worth it? I'm curious about people's choices and reasons, and I'm curious if answers are different for men vs. women, moms vs. non-moms, moms vs. dads, dads vs. non-dads, students vs. professionals, single folk vs. together-in-whatever-way folk, etc. It just interests me. And I wonder if I had more time, would I spend it running, biking, swimming more?

That all reminds me of a funny story for those of you with kids (especially young kids). A friend of mine who has never been married and is currently single with no kids was lamenting about how little time she has for herself. She calculated how many hours per day (24 hours) that she spent sleeping, commuting, working, showering, etc. She was so annoyed and sad when she discovered that she only had 4 hours a day for the things she wanted to do. Hahahahahahahahaha...isn't that a good one? She told this to three moms: one with 2 kids under the age of 4, one with only one 5-year-old but is a single working mother, and the last with 2 gorgeous boys and a part-time preschool job. It was a knee-slapper, for sure.

Tempo Times:

1. 4:53.30
2. 5.08.55
3&4. 10:39.33

I thought I pushed the button at the marker, but I guess not. However, if memory serves, lap 3 was around 5:10 so lap 4 would be 5:29, which makes sense as we walked up the hill. Not half-bad, all things considered.