Forecast

The forecast for Sunday now says 84 degrees and isolated thunder storms. I think I liked the near-90 but sunny prediction better.

5224

It's always exciting to get your bib number for a race. Somehow that makes it seem real. Of course, getting up at the crack of dawn, fighting with a few thousand other people for parking, and standing around before the sun comes up freezing your butt off also makes it seem real. But this is good, too. I still have to go into Philly before race day and pick up the actual bib, along with whatever running swag I can get for free. The goal will be to get in and out of the expo without succumbing to temptation to spend money on cool running gear. After all, I do need a new pair of running shoes.

My bib number for the 31st Broad Street Run is #5224. For those stalkers out there you can check out my time on the website. Sunday's forecast calls for a high of 89 degrees. Yikes! It says "AM clouds/PM sun" so perhaps it won't be as blistering as it might seem. Regardless, I'm looking forward to it.

You'd think I'd be more excited

The Broad Street Run is now only 12 days away and you'd think I would be a little more excited about it. But I'm not. My training continues. Without much ado. I've been able to stick to my schedule for the most part and my last few long runs were good. Nothing exceptional but then nothing worrisome either. I'm probably set up to run my usual pace come race day. I suppose that's why I'm not all that excited about it. I started the season hoping to knock some minutes off my finishing time this year and I don't get the feeling that it's going to happen. I'm not crushed by this revelation but then I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. Now, I know some of you are probably thinking "But you haven't even run the race yet!" This is true. I could surprise myself. It's happened before. But I suppose I'm not willing to make any outrageous bets at this point. It's OK. I'll do my best on race day and be happy with whatever results I get.

As long as it's not worse than last year.

HOT

Well, after complaining about the cold for so long you'd think that I'd be glad for warmer weather. And I am. Don't get me wrong... I'm loving these temps in the 80's and up to 90. However, it's difficult to go from running in 60 degree weather straight to upper 80's without some kind of backlash. On Tuesday I got out for my run early. It was about 1pm and the temperature was probably around 85. I was thrilled to be out in shorts and a T-shirt and to be warm! That lasted about 20 minutes and then I was hot. After another 10 minutes I was TOO hot. I felt ill and had to actually walk for a few minutes. I quickly realized that not only was my body just plain not used to running in the heat but that I hadn't adequately prepared and I was dehydrated. I managed to run another 10 minutes and then I had to call it quits. I simply wasn't up to the task physically. I should have drank more water ahead of time. I should have waited until later in the day to head out when it would be cooler. Lesson learned. Luckily for me the temps are heading back down to more "normal" numbers for the rest of the week. Tomorrow's run should be easier at 4pm when it will be 5-7 degrees cooler. And I'll drink my water ahead of time. And then on Friday the high should be 61. Gotta love this spring weather!

Small victories

It gives me such pleasure when I actually pass students who are out running. I know, I'm old and vain. I'm OK with it.

It's all coming back now

Today I did my long run outside for the first time, well, since I stated training. It was also the first time I had run in my neighborhood since November, I think. It was good to get back out there. The run wasn't all that long - 6 miles - but the idea of doing that on the treadmill was not pleasant. The day promised to be quite nice with a high of 50 degrees but since I had to get my run over and done with before 9am it was only in the 20's when I headed out. Still, the Sun was shining and my route was finally clear of snow. My usual path through the neighborhood includes several hills and good ones at that. They were tough as I don't really have any hills at all on my route around campus and then the treadmill is, of course, flat. Despite all of this I managed a decent time and, most importantly, I felt good. Oh, and I didn't trip.

State of grace

I went running outside today. I had to climb back on the horse, get back on the bike, get back in the groove, insert your favorite metaphor here. And the results? ...drum roll, please... I managed to stay vertical! Yes, yes, I know you all had your doubts, as did I, but I believe I have proven once again that if you work hard enough and long enough you can eventually overcome even the biggest challenges, like putting one foot in front of the other without diving face first into the sidewalk. Soon I might even be ready to try walking and chewing gum at the same time. Small moves, Ellie, small moves.