Countdown: 8 days.
Thursday, 5:18 a.m. (not a typo), 46 degrees, clammy, dark out. Really dark out. 2 Union loops, 4 miles.
Friday, 3:32 p.m., 50's, nice day. Seneca, 2 1/2 miles.
Saturday, 2:50 p.m., 69 degrees (record highs), cloudy, windy. Gazette to The Step, 5 miles.
Well, here we go, it's the final stretch, one week left after almost seven months of messing around, minus about 6 1/2 weeks during Saratoga. My schedule, and some insomnia, have been forcing my hand when it comes to what I do on a daily basis the last few days. I think it's too late for any more track work to be of help, and I don't want to beat up my legs at this point, so I think I'm going to stick to some 5-6 milers and see how hard I can push it without getting crazy. I might sneak in a day off somewhere, and Saturday is definitely a day off.
I couldn't sleep on Thursday, so I just got up and ran, and it was pretty good. I was awake, and everything seemed to feel pretty comfortable, without the benefit of ibuprofen. On raceday, I plan to give myself every advantage.
Friday was just awful, the worst workout I've had since I came back after Saratoga. Head 1, Legs nil. I had too many things on my mind, and couldn't keep it from creeping into everything else. I was just going through the motions.
Saturday was a real nice rebound. It was ridiculously warm out, and I felt strong and light on my feet. Got into a nice rhythm on the way back and lost it a little as I approached the Anthony Street hill, but kept picking them up and putting them down.
Wildlife Watch: On Friday, spotted a ladybug, bee, angel and Wolverine, walking up Union Street. The workout was so bad, the trick-or-treaters looked like they were moving faster than I was. Maybe it was the sugar. I used to mainline candy corn, so I know the rush.
On Saturday, I came within a millimeter of stepping in a fresh deposit cleverly concealed by some leaves on the bikepath. My 2-year-old nephew Shane is 11 counties away, so it wasn't him. Small Furry Creature Nation has shifted to landmines. Sneaky.
