Mad Manatee Mentors 2013: CLOSED (exc/ Pop Tart bribes) (Page 192)

I spent half my afternoon dealing with a young rat...

He was in the courtyard at my College.  I went out for my run at lunchtime, and there were some young men looking at something on the ground.  A rat.  No fear, didn't really even seem to acknowledge that we were there.  It was hot, so I wondered if maybe he was dehydrated/disoriented.  Grabbed a Hosta leaf and put some of my water in it--he drank.  Well, there was nothing I could do for him, so off I went on my run.  An hour later, I come back, he is still there.  So I run up to my office, grab an old hamster cage and go and get him.  He is obviously not right as he is not running away.  He did try to kick my a$$ when I picked him up, but once in the cage he just sat there.  Then I noticed his right eye was kinda bulgy.  Hmmm.  Well, I figure I will take him out to the woods out back, at least a bird will get a meal.  Once I get him out there, I start thinking about the fact that he may have gotten into some rat bait; if he becomes someones meal (worst case scenario--a cat), it is bye bye for them too....It is also by now obvious that the little gaffer is blind.  Crap.

So, off we go to talk to the guys in facilities about whether they use traps or poison.  The answer: both.  Crap again.  So now, off we go to my lab to get some pink juice and put him out of his misery.  And me out of mine .  He was obviously in dire straights, as just the act of me scruffing him to inject stressed him out so much that he was pretty much gone.  Poor little fella. 

Rode my bike this morning, too.  It did not go as well as Judi's ride.  ;)

I tipped over - stopped at the top of the hill and then couldn't get started again because the trailer has so much inertia.  Of course, E freaked out and started screaming.  So, I had to call DH to come get her.  Then she screamed because daddy put her in the car.  In the process of tipping over, I messed up my front derailleur and it won't shift into the big ring.  Guess I'm heading to the bike store tomorrow.

I spent half my afternoon dealing with a young rat...

He was in the courtyard at my College.  I went out for my run at lunchtime, and there were some young men looking at something on the ground.  A rat.  No fear, didn't really even seem to acknowledge that we were there.  It was hot, so I wondered if maybe he was dehydrated/disoriented.  Grabbed a Hosta leaf and put some of my water in it--he drank.  Well, there was nothing I could do for him, so off I went on my run.  An hour later, I come back, he is still there.  So I run up to my office, grab an old hamster cage and go and get him.  He is obviously not right as he is not running away.  He did try to kick my a$$ when I picked him up, but once in the cage he just sat there.  Then I noticed his right eye was kinda bulgy.  Hmmm.  Well, I figure I will take him out to the woods out back, at least a bird will get a meal.  Once I get him out there, I start thinking about the fact that he may have gotten into some rat bait; if he becomes someones meal (worst case scenario--a cat), it is bye bye for them too....It is also by now obvious that the little gaffer is blind.  Crap.

So, off we go to talk to the guys in facilities about whether they use traps or poison.  The answer: both.  Crap again.  So now, off we go to my lab to get some pink juice and put him out of his misery.  And me out of mine .  He was obviously in dire straights, as just the act of me scruffing him to inject stressed him out so much that he was pretty much gone.  Poor little fella. 

Kirsten, I was thinking about your HIM run question ... I'm too lazy to go back and see if anyone answered it yet.

I was lucky to catch some time with Frank Shorter and we were talking about every run having a purpose. This is something I have found important from the get go. What was interesting is that Frank said something along the lines of, "There are easy runs, that will make up the majority of your training, there are runs to help you get fast and there are runs to remind you that you are fit." So, he's totally recognizing the importance of the psychological side of running. 

From a physiological perspective, doing that long run at that specific distance probably isn't going to do much for you. As you know, it's waaaaaay more about the overall volume and consistency.

But, if you feel like you need it, I don't think it will hurt. Just be sure not to push it or do anything silly.

That's just my, non-HIM though.

On a just plain HM note though, I think it's very important to train over the distance often. 

See how some workouts go before determining if you're feeling ok. I've felt fine just walking around or at work after lots of things, but awful once I tried to get going in a workout.

Trying to scale some things I might do into this. I'd probably do another good sized run in there and pick up the pace some later in it for a bit. Not really as long overall as you just did, but still big enough to be on the longer side. Maybe 8-10k considering the volume you've been putting in? Picking up the pace would only be for a few minutes. However, see how you're feeling from this one first. Would you be able to get in a little bit at or just over estimated race pace in another run? A couple days before or after the bigger one? Not a stressful tempo, but enough to help you get the feel for it. How different would this pacing be from your regular speed?

I don't think I would do my longest run a week before the race. Maybe a 10k with some tempo or intervals. I try to remember that there is really nothing I can do a week or 2 before the race to improve my performance ( the work is done), but there are things I can do to hurt it and that includes doing too much or trying to make up for any perceived training deficiencies.

I'd do another long run.  A one week taper for an HIM should not be a problem.  If it gets to be the 8th before this happens, though, I'd switch it to something shorter.

Rode my bike this morning, too.  It did not go as well as Judi's ride.  

I tipped over - stopped at the top of the hill and then couldn't get started again because the trailer has so much inertia.  Of course, E freaked out and started screaming.  So, I had to call DH to come get her.  Then she screamed because daddy put her in the car.  In the process of tipping over, I messed up my front derailleur and it won't shift into the big ring.  Guess I'm heading to the bike store tomorrow.

Ouch, I hope you, E, and your bike are all OK.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.  I just hit F5!!!  I just wish my skillz were better!

Ouch, I hope you, E, and your bike are all OK.

I laugh every time I log in. Thank you very much, Kirsten!

I laugh every time I log in. Thank you very much, Kirsten!

And I am bawling here at my desk cause I just watched the video that you linked in your log.  My desk pad calendar is all wet...  Thanks for posting that.

WTF, you look awesome in both pics. 

Rode my bike this morning, too.  It did not go as well as Judi's ride.  

I tipped over - stopped at the top of the hill and then couldn't get started again because the trailer has so much inertia.  Of course, E freaked out and started screaming.  So, I had to call DH to come get her.  Then she screamed because daddy put her in the car.  In the process of tipping over, I messed up my front derailleur and it won't shift into the big ring.  Guess I'm heading to the bike store tomorrow.

Ouch, I hope you, E, and your bike are all OK.