Month: October 2014

Too much breath holding this week.

Good runs from the new office to my trails in Forest Park.  I haven’t ventured out to the arboretum or zoo or done the full council crest loop but I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

I’ve found it’s extremely tough coming back over the Burnside bridge after running Wildwood in Forest Park – the total mileage to the new office is 7 miles, the same loop was only 5+ from my old office. From Voodoo doughnuts it’s a climb to the top of the bridge and a descent to Grand Ave, but that climb is kinda annoying.

I’m not used to seeing so much bodily fluid in the street when I run. Most of the homeless shelters are just over Burnside bridge into downtown, so I have to go through the 2nd, 3rd and 7th circles of Hell to get to the trails. (I think there’s actually a strip club called Dante’s that I pass). Honestly it’s a good reminder of the range of the human condition. There was a younger guy and an old woman sitting criss-cross applesauce on the sidewalk on Tuesday engaged in a drugged out staring contest. Sometimes when I look at the people, their bodies and faces wracked with substance abuse, I catch a glimpse of what they looked like before the descent – before their cheeks caved in and they lost all their teeth.

Good travel coming up. Looking forward to exploring in my running shoes.

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Upcoming race in Tillamook Forest in a couple of weeks.  I only took a small 10oz bottle with me last Sunday on my 15 miler. I think I may do this 50K super light and rock the aid stations.  Looking forward.

That’s all I could think about. I should have stayed at the office tonight and worked. Instead I set in motion *insane* machinations to get to the starting line of this race:

http://www.strava.com/activities/202140067

I finished a meeting, reserved a Car2Go, then packed up all my crap… which included my cycling kit, 2 rain jackets, 3 bike lights and all my running gear (and lunch box) and then proceeded to ride half a mile (in the opposite direction I needed to go) to get the Car2Go.

Unlocked the car, precariously placed the bike hanging out of the back of the car (sans front wheel) and then started tearing from SE to SW to get to Forest Park and the start line.

Still in my work clothes mind you. Like a crazy person, I put the Car2Go in the smallest possible parallel spot it would fit. Fuck it. It was a *9* point parallel turn to tuck it in.

6:14pm (1 minute to start)
Stripped my shirt and put on my running shirt standing next to the car. Looked around as I considered dropping my trousers to put on my running shorts… back into the car to change into my shorts (gross!) and then … and then …. realized I packed Injinji socks! I nearly lost it at this point as I uncurled the socks, determined which foot was which and then painstakingly slipped each of my toes into the toe socks. Note to self: in a hurry, don’t go for the Injinji’s.

Heart rate strap installed, shoes tied (TOO LOOSE), I then hopped on the bike with an overstuffed, unbalanced pannier, wearing my running kit and rode the final 200 yards to the start… race director is giving instructions – I shout out my name, drop the bike, get my number, start my watch and….. GO!

Bad Idea Jeans.

Passed a bunch of people on the first climb, gaining ground on my regular pack who started near the front.  Futzing with my headlamp on the climb… blah blah. Excuses excuses. Not recovered, not snappy, mostly just not mentally ready to race tonight.

Hit the turn around and was positively *joggin’* up the long climb. Runners at my back on the last singletrack downhill – oops, roll my ankle. WHAT AM I DOING HERE!?

One of those days. Everyone has them. I haven’t in a while, I was due.

Rolling with it.

*I think the slowest race of the series is tossed in the final results – that’d be this one.