dum de dum dum /12 mile day

and so there is one day to go and tomorrow i head back to the UK. time here in the usa goes so much faster than there. or so it seems -

but today after gail's call i went out and got 12 miles in-8 decent ones and 4 just moving along down the trail. went south down the path and up the big hill towards mt vernon. have to love that hill, but some of the older runners as i now am, will remember the hill before they moved the path over to get it a little straighter (too many bike accidents on the curves) and how it was even steeper then. back when we could run into the estate before 9/11 stopped that.

pretty morning out in the low 30's temp wise and the sun up over the river with the tide going out. seems like i had recovered pretty well from yesterday's sprint workout and nothing hurt more than usual, in fact a little less actually. i watched out for the hamstring of course and kept the pace steady and the pf muscle was held at bay.

heart rate which had been 47 when i woke up was a little higher than it should have been at this pace, but i have found that my heart rate is higher here in the states and maybe it is the humidity or allergens in the air or maybe i am just more tired as i am certainly busier and getting less sleep.

on the way back i ran into carol and we chatted a bit while i slowed down for her and then headed up the hill towards the 3 mile marker. at waynewood i decided to add some extra miles and ran north planning to run the east blvd loop, but i ran into my friend barbara and she told me about her latest bursitis problem and how she was retiring as a runner at least for now. dr had given her some meds and the pain had gone away and now that she was trying to run again the pain was back. there comes a time when you just ,make the right call and ratchet back. i wonder myself sometimes if i will ever run without pain again and doubt it. once pain is a given it is easier to deal with. doesn't make sense i know. when i am back here for good i will try again to get it fixed. but for now my left leg can carry me. i still try to re-train the right leg and it is coming along slowly.

so i turned around and went back with barbara all the way back to her house so she could show me her latest contractor work- they built over the back steps and also converted the screened porch into a full time use room. must be nice to have a fully functioning house. someday maybe...

and then i took the long way home down neal st. and cut over to the trail and made sure at that point i did enough to get 12 miles in. then home and spread the rest of the topsoil and mulch, and cut the grass one last time before leaving for oxford. ran the dishwasher and did laundry while finishing writing out the bills and then headed off to the post ofc.

passed a nine car accident on the other side of the road. cars up in the trees and smashed all to heck sitting in the road- airbags deployed and people being helped and medical care and police arriving. in a 35 mile zone this seemed like a lot of damage and i guessed that someone crossed over the lanes though it was hard to tell who had. was thinking as i crawled past how upset i had been that i was running later than i had wanted to, but had i been 6 minutes or so earlier, i could have been much more involved in this thing than just watching. timing, huh?

after the p.o. went to the range and did some short game and hit some balls. getting some feel back in the short game and still not striking the ball well. but won't get to practice again for some time. am still committed to trying again for awhile and will see what happens. part of the fun in golf is to actually be able to play rather than just hit and find. was it just over a year ago that i got my handicap ,down to 11 and was actually planning balanced shots? not there now for sure. and i hate hit and hope.

spent the night getting ready to go back - clearing out the house and getting stuff ready to be packed. will finish tomorrow-

next blog will be from the uk in 2 days most likely. some sleep would be nice so will wrap up shortly and try.

hillary and barack show continues. is there something in the water at the governor's mansion in NY? letterman is ranting about the tick on his back. and the war goes on while the economy sucks. what will happen when the boomers start in on social security and medicare? but i digress... smile- everyday is an adventure and an opportunity.