On I went, out of the wood, passing the man leading without knowing I was going to do so. Flip-flap, flip-flap, jog-trot, jog-trot, curnchslap-crunchslap, across the middle of a broad field again, rhythmically running in my greyhound effortless fashion, knowing I had won the race though it wasn't half over, won it if I wanted it, could go on for ten or fifteen or twenty miles if I had to and drop dead at the finish of it, which would be the same, in the end, as living an honest life like the governor wanted me to. -Alan Sillitoe, "Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner"

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Blah humbug

I wanted to update both of you readers on my running, but... My runs have just been kind of there lately, my life outside of running and the blog is also just sort of there, and I find myself in the very very unusual position of not really having anything to say about myself. (That won't stop me from filling several paragraphs of blog with meandering nothingness, mind you.)

But at least I have been running, mostly. I'm still taking antibiotics to cure the sore throat from hell - nearly three weeks ago! My long runs have seemed to stagnate in the 12-13m range for the past few weeks, and running has felt very hard. It's not getting easier, anyway. Still, I've been doing it. I need to kick it into gear, though. And by "it" I mean "myself." I need to kick myself into gear. I need to kick myself, period. Snap out of it, Tracy!

Now, I'm sure it's totally unrelated that I'm writing this from the couch with a chocolate chip cookie in hand. And it's not the first time lately I've been in this position, either. Not even the first time today. They're double chocolate chip, actually. Remember: correlation ≠ causation.

This weekend, though, I got some good running in. On Friday I ran to Trader Joe's, where the cashier made me feel like a badass when he was impressed with my 4m jog. "You ran here? From Harlem? Damn!"

Quit giving me that haughty look, you skinny freak
On Saturday I did a long run with my friend Renee down Summer Streets and onto the West Side Highway. I'd love to gush about how the weather was perfect and Summer Streets was amazing and it was one of those runs that just glowed, but truthfully? The company was great but the run itself was hard.

Now her haughty look seems more disdainful as Renee cozies with her life partner.
On Sunday, I met Mz. Duffy for a loop of Central Park. Good company, good conversation, and steady rain made for an amazing run. This one I actually could gush about, but just use your imagination.

After the rain run, on Sunday afternoon, I had a massage. On Sunday night I slept nine hours. Huh. Guess I was tired?
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5 comments:

  1. UnknownTue Aug 16, 07:52:00 AM EDT

    I wish I had a massage and 9 hours sleep! THAT's worth gushing about.

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  2. AnonymousTue Aug 16, 10:55:00 AM EDT

    i feel like everyones sort of in a running slump right now? marathon training is catching up i guess? though my slump means i'm doing too much bachelorette partying with girlfriends over the weekend and too much whining about a measly seven mile run in the rain on sunday...that does not even begin to make up for the lack of running leading up to it. atleast youre getting the mileage covered!! kudos for that :)

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  3. chris mcpeakeTue Aug 16, 12:23:00 PM EDT

    Man if I get 6 hours I am so happy. Dont worry about slumping just run through it.

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  4. TTue Aug 16, 12:56:00 PM EDT

    Just run through it - I like that advice, a lot!

    The 9 hours of sleep was extraordinary, in the sense that it was highly unusual. But I'm kind of almost worried. I've taken lately to sleeping through my alarm - as in not at all hearing it, as in getting up, turning it off, and going back to bed without waking up. Very uncharacteristic.

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  5. neeTue Aug 16, 09:25:00 PM EDT

    I love "starring" in your blog and totally agree with the run review. Tough run, great company. (you forgot about the part where you fought with the biker riding on the ped path!)

    And that skinny bia-tch is totally jealous I'm all over her man...

    Look forward to seeing you and running with you again soon!

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