I like to check out new blogs periodically, though I don't have much time for it (but hey, it's fun! good enough reason?). Today I found Shut Up and Run, which is sharp, funny and kinda vulgar...oh so worth the read! Beth is running a contest, and I believe today is the last day to get in on it, so get in on it!
r.p. and I had a great run Thursday morning. Regarding Nike+ manipulations, I went with the cheapest and easiest solution and it worked like a charm. I usually put the Nike+ sensor beneath the lower part of the tongue of my shoe, strapped in my the laces. Although this wasn't a problem in the past, I considered the possibility that 1) a weakening battery might not be able to push the signal through the thick fabric of the tongue (sounds pretty ridiculous, but...?), or 2) maybe I'm lacing tighter and my sock or foot flesh is pushing the sleep button on the bottom of the sensor (also sounds silly, but definitely more likely). Hmm. So I put the sensor in the middle of the bottom of a plastic baggie and rolled the baggie up, from the top toward the sensor. Slick little devil. Then I put the excess tabs of baggie plastic under the lower and upper shoelaces and laced as usual. I meant to pin them in, but forgot. However, two runs did nothing to dislodge the sensor, and it stayed in place, fully revealed. Yeah, now I'm a swooshed Nike ad, if anyone cares to look.
As a safeguard, I wore one earbud, music turned off, so I could converse with r.p. and simultaneously hear if Nike+ had the ole disconnect (she tells me, "you're not running, sucka!" when I surely am running.). But not now: Ah, credit for two full runs! It will take a while to gain that trust again, but Nike+ seems serious about rebuilding our relationship.
Friday's run was sans r.p. I was a little apprehensive, as my runs with r.p. are always so enjoyable and the same hasn't so far been said for my solo runs. So I turned on the music - not too proud to admit I'm not a purist - and took off on sunny Friday late afternoon. I decided to go past the usual 30 minute run, since I had no schedule pincher to cut me short, so I went 4.3 miles in 45 minutes. I felt like I could go forever, but didn't want to wreck things by overusing an under-hardened body. My average pace was faster than it has been, even though I went further. I could feel that I was running faster than with r.p. (she only started running when we partnered up), but it really did feel freeing to just go. A little like flying.
p.j. and I went on a date afterward (yes, I did get cleaned up first) to our local Mexican fare, which is simply excellent. We ate much. We drank much (for us anyway - margarita sour on the rocks, por favor!). Then we went home and our romantic evening quickly turned to snooze. Yeah, we're livin' on the edge.
The rest of the weekend consisted of catching up on a very long to-do list. I didn't run, although I had been looking forward to running. Lack of a plan! Dag nabit. So tonight I have planned a run, and have j.p.'s support, since I won't have much wiggle room in the sched. Get home from work, get changed, hit the road, stretch, shower, get presentable, hit our core group. Totally doable, but no lollygagging allowed. And I am such a lollygagger.
Rain, rain, go away! I want a sunny run today!
