MY RETURN TO THE HERD

Last night I ran with the Buffalo Chips. Pre-Peanut I used to run with them on a regular basis at all their workouts but then life came along and I found myself only making the Tuesday night runs. That's okay. Tuesday night's speed drills are more than enough for me.

After a race to pick up the Peanut, head home, change and do a "hand-off" with Vans, I was out the door and on my way. When I arrived I found a familar face, my friend Mrs. Urban Cow (she is named such because she won the contest changing the Sacramento Cowtown Marathon name this past winter - it is now called The Urban Cow Half Marathon). Urban Cow has been injured and this was also her first night back with the group. We decided to jump into the lower B group of runners (the groups are split up into A (fast) B (medium pace) and C (beginners/walkers). We normally run with the A group, Urban Cow does so because she is actually really fast and myself because most of my friends are in that group and they tend to finish early, so I take up the caboose.

Last night's workout was 3x600, 3x800 and 2x1000 with a mile and a half warmup/cool down. Immediately on my warmup my legs felt like I was running in quicksand and they never recovered. I won't scare anyone with my horrible splits and honestly, I stopped looking after a while myself. I only managed the 600s and the 800s bailing on the 1000s because I had a case of the Shut Up and Run syndrome. I was done. It seems I have been battling a tummy bug off and on and I am thinking maybe I am slightly dehydrated. I drink water but since I have started my afternoon lunch time runs 3 days a week, perhaps I am not compensating for the additional mileage (in the heat). Working on that. I need to put down the Peet's and pick up the aqua.

There have been a few questions and comments made about Western States. No, I am not running it. Perhaps some day I will as it was always a dream of mine to run that race. However, I can honestly say I won't be running it anytime soon. When I do, I want the  Peanut to be old enough to understand what I am doing and to be able to help and be there for support. Western States is an amazing race that deserves respect and committment and unfortunately, I am not able to do that right now. Some day though, some day.

In the meantime, I will stick with local runs and races. I have a half marathon on the horizon and the Western States Training run so that should keep me busy for a while.

Meanwhile, Peanut is busy helping Vans sell wine. She knows a good vintage when she sees one!

Mmm, Sangiovese, Mom's favorite!

You want how much for this?