Friday, April 24, 2009

Hot Hot Hot

Oh spring, where art thou? When I got up this morning it was 40 degrees. By 11:00 it was already above 70, and when I left work at 4:30 it was well over 80 and uncomfortably humid. It's like we went straight from winter to summer in under six hours. This happens every year, but I'm never ready for it. I certainly have not adjusted to run in this weather, so I will have to get up early tomorrow (which is projected to be warmer than today) and get my 10 miles in before it gets too hot. Tomorrow I want to do those 10 miles at my marathon race pace (8:30-8:35) so I do not need any obstacles such as unpleasantly warm temperatures.

This weather is perfect, however, for kicking back with a beer (or two) which is what I'm currently doing on the patio seating area of my favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor. I've had a Bell's Oberon and I'm now working on a Stoudt's Pale Ale. I'm off to my last classical music concert of the season after this, and I decided to treat myself to some al fresco dining. It's the first day where I didn't feel like I needed to have a jacket on hand when outside. Of course, I also don't want to look like a weird loser who's eating dinner on a Friday evening by herself, so that's what liveblogging via iPhone is for: so I look like a weird, albeit hip with the latest technology, loser who's dining alone.

This weekend marks the apogee of my training for Cleveland. With 10 miles tomorrow and 22 on Sunday I will close the door on the bulk of my training and begin my slow steady glide toward M-Day, a mere 3 weeks and 2 days hence.

I can't believe it's almost here. Sitting where I am at the moment (outside, in sandals, skirt, and short-sleeved shirt), I've almost lost sight of the fact that I started training the second week in January. All those weeks of pitch black predawn runs, snow and ice encrusted sidewalks and streets, frozen fingers, ears, and nose, the stillness of the mornings, shuffling through freshly fallen snow, feeling like I was the only one left on earth...did I really experience that? Yes. Over three months ago I started on this, my marathon journey, and now the end is almost here.

But first, dessert!
Mobile Blogging from here.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sarah, that is truly a wonderful feeling indeed--you've left the winter behind you, and are moving into your spring. It's metaphorical, it's literal, and I can't think of a better transition from your peak mileage week into your taper.

Spike said...

Friday was a perfect day to go outside and enjoy a meal, too bad I was stuck at work until midnight.

can't wait to read about the runs!

B. Kramer said...

Now all you have to do is get used to this weather. Good look on the taper slide. Cheers.

The Oberon doesn't taste as good to me this year as it did last year. I need to get it on draft before passing final judgment.

Carolina John said...

yea mday is almost here. we got into the mid 90's sat and sun. damn summer heat.

E-Speed said...

Enjoy the taper and good luck in Cleveland! Hopefully the new course will help to get you that BQ!

raulgonemobile said...

Enjoy the tapering.. the beer and environment sounds great to be outside and enjoying

I saw rumors of some sort of iPhone device coming to Verizon, so I'm really hoping someday to join the ranks of the hip people