November 27, 2007

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
30 minutes in the pool, didn’t count laps. Played around a lot with different stroke variations, mostly open water stuff, so I had to imagine the surf. It was very relaxing. Swimming is weird; I can keep up a steady pace, and it’s as easy as walking down the street. Easier, there’s no traffic. Even doing the occasional 2-3 lap pickup I finished feeling completely relaxed, not breathing hard at all. When I run, no matter how easily, I can really feel it.
Today would have been an easy one to take off. Still tired from holiday/weekend and darts last night didn’t help. I was planning on running an easy, flat 5k from school, but I was asked to cover another teacher’s afternoon duty, and while out on the playground, found out we had a staff meeting with the superintendent afterward. So at 3:20 I head to the library, with its numerous high windows and skylights facing west, letting in the low, bright rays of the setting sun. And slowly watched it grow dim, then dark, thinking how nice it would be to be out there running. Insert frowny face here. I figure, what the hell, I’ll just put on the reflective vest and get it done in the dark, but then I find I forgot my running pants, and I wanted my legs warm. Well, maybe it’s still warm out, and I’ll go out in shorts. So I take one step out the back door to my class, and see that the remainder of the morning’s rain has frozen into irregular patches of pebbly ice, and the moon hasn’t risen yet – it is pitch dark out. No friggin’ way. Hell no. Happy to swim. I hope I can get that run in tomorrow, though, before the evening’s track meeting.
Congratulations Raul Lazo, my friend and teammate. It’s great to see you back! I love you bro. Bellmore Striders rule.
HR 48 during staff meeting. It may get a little lower, but not much.
My left knee hurts! I’ve already mentioned the left shoulder, which stems from an ancient diving injury. That was really the reason for the stroke variations today. Good thing this is an easy week.