Back on the road, so far so good

Last night after work I did my first running since my right knee blew up after the Mudder. It’s been a little more than two weeks since the injury.  To be honest, when it first happened I thought I would be laid up for longer than a couple weeks.  I ran with Kim and Heather, both of whom are better runners than I am, I knew I was going to be working hard.

In total we did a little less than 5 miles at close to an 8:40 pace, a pace I can keep when I have been running regularly.  To keep that pace with the sporadic running I have been doing the last few months was tough.  I managed to hang till the end, barely.

Hopefully I get to run with them more often, it was fun and they’re both very nice and easy to talk to.  Running with people faster than yourself is the best way to raise your level.

For the third time this week I found myself awake in the middle of the night for extended periods of time.  This time I woke up at 1:45 am and probably didn’t get back to sleep until at least 3.  I was happy to see that at least so far, the end of days had not occurred.

I wouldn’t call us in the clear quite yet.  Some of the science based Earth destruction scenarios could still go down before Saturday hits like a dark comet strike, massive solar flares or the massive underground volcano in Yellowstone blowing it’s top.

This is shaping up to be quite a busy weekend.  It starts off with timing a race Saturday morning in what promises to be pretty frigid temperatures by Florida standards.  The thermometer is predicted to be solidly in the 40’s about the time I will be outside setting up for the race.  I’ve already told Ali that she can skip coming to the race since she hates cold with a red hot passion.  Plus, it’s her birthday.

On Sunday I will be lugging several boxes to Mary’s place for a bib chip affixing “party” where we will be sticking timing chips on roughly 2000 race bibs for the half marathon.   It’s going to be quite the production.

In between those things I will be knocking out chores and finishing up last minute Christmas items.  The good news is I have 4 straight days off since we get Xmas eve as well as Christmas Day off.

I’ve had a couple boxes start showing up on the doorstep for me from family for my birthday and Christmas.  I have been just wrapping them in paper and throwing them under the tree.  At least it makes the tree look more official.

My mom, Ali and I have not come up with a rock solid game plan for how Christmas is going to go down.  It is going to feel strange and awkward for all of us in one way or another.  We’ll get through it. It is what it is.