Whew...

What a week. I am crazy tired right now. And the vast majority of work is yet to be done! At least I now have time off from work to make it all happen. I'm slowly getting things over to the new house, and it's starting to come together. My big items will move towards the end of next week. I was hoping to have started painting by now, but no joy - I've got other things to do ahead of that still.

Note to self: In the future, read instruction labels more carefully, and avoid like the plague any adhesive products that advise: Product contact with skin can only be removed mechanically, or allowed to wear off over time. Mechanically?!? Ugh.

And sorry for the lack of running updates this week - nothing really worth reporting on. Next Monday, I'm going to attempt to get back on track one way or another. Sheesh, I've got to - not much time left to get ready!

Thanks for putting up with my lack of reports - this upcoming week will likely be sparse too, since I have to clear completely out of my apartment. By this time next week, I should be feeling much more "settled" ;-)
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Now playing: the pixies - wave of mutilation

Home, Sweet Home

I am now a bona fide homeowner.

The closing went pretty much as planned today. A few last-minute hurdles to jump getting to the table, but it all concluded just fine. And I walked away from the deal with a nice-sized check in hand - which will all go right back into the house ;-)

I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I don't expect it will until I actually move in and start living there. I'm still darn excited - I have a LOT of work ahead, but I know it'll all be worthwhile! After I get settled in, I'm planning to do a "lessons learned" post about my overall buying experience.

Since I needed a few hours off during the day to close, I skipped my morning run and went into work early. I ran this evening to make up for it. I knew I wasn't as well hydrated as I should've been (naughty bad Hydro!), so I didn't end up going for very long. The numbers turned out much better than I was expecting. Tomorrow will be my planned weekday off, and then I'll start up again Weds morning.

GPS Rundown:
Rogers Lake Figure-8 (mod)
5.03 miles / 40:31 time / 8:04 pace
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Now playing: harvey danger - flagpole sitta

Saturday's schlep

Today's run was... meh. Good numbers overall (straight-through, no stops), but it didn't feel great. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I usually do my long runs. I suppose it's because I have a lot on my mind with the new house. I was considering doing more mileage today, but the body said it was time to stop when I did, so I didn't push it. I still have plenty of time to hit the 18- and 20-mile marks.

Now, it's time to start moving some items over to the new house, and then get my Home Depot on!

GPS Rundown:
Chain of Lakes variation
14.53 miles / 2:03:18 time / 8:29 pace
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Now playing: new order - 60 mph

Friday run-fu

No run yesterday - it was a planned day off.

Great running weather this morning. Once I was finally fully awake out there, I really enjoyed the run.

GPS Rundown:
Rogers Lake (mod)
5.59 miles / 45:31 time / 8:09 pace
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Now playing: turriff & district pipe band - up in the morning...

Wednesday's whoosh

Good news on the closing - it's been officially scheduled again. Maybe not as soon as I'd like, but at least it's back on. By this time next week, I should have the house. I actually have the keys now, but I feel weird moving much stuff until the papers are all signed. I'm very grateful that it's all once again moving forward!

** break - break **

I'm going to start working in one evening run during the (work) week. My mornings are allowing for a ~4.5 mile run, and I'd like to do one longer run during the week. My plan would be to then take the next day off. That'll be fine since I rarely end up running all 5 days as it is. I'd still do a long run on Saturday, and take Sunday off (or a perhaps short run).

I started that tonight. It's pretty muggy out, but I figure doing some runs in the heat is good for my conditioning. I had some energy I needed to get out of my system tonight, so I decided to try my 7.5 mile route in under 8-minute miles. Maybe not by much, but I did it. Feels good.

GPS Rundown:
Rogers Lake + Resurrection (extended)
7.56 miles / 60:13 time / 7:58 pace
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Now playing: the pixies - dig for fire

Tuesday trundle

Arguably dreary out this morning, but I prefer it like that for running.

I'm considering some options to beef up my weekday mileage, but I'd like to get this house timeline nailed down better first. In the meantime, just do it.

GPS Rundown:
Rogers Lake + Resurrection Figure-8
6.44 miles / 53:26 time / 8:18 pace
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Now playing: yo-yo ma - unaccompanied cello suite 2 in d

Ugh.

Final word today: Closing has rolexed. It's nothing major jeopardizing the deal overall (thank goodness) - just some title paperwork minutiae that's still not in accordance with, so everything's on hold for right now. Closing should happen by the end of the week; I'll keep y'all posted...

I'll do my final walk-through tomorrow though - that'll give me an opportunity to decide on painting colors and get going on shopping for some other DITY projects I have planned. So, it'll still be a productive day.

"Serenity NOW!!!"

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Now playing: the pop will eat itself - splendour and chaos

So it begins

Brisk out this morning!

GPS Rundown:
Rogers Lake Figure-8 (mod)
4.65 miles / 39:21 time / 8:28 pace
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Now playing: handel - concerto no 6

Gettin' hip

Feeling swell today - I was curious how tight or sore I may be today after yesterday's big push, but I feel great overall. I'm blessed to not have any injuries or dogged aches & pains so far; although, yesterday, I did notice something a bit askew with my left hip early in the run - it wasn't an irritation or a pain per se, nor was it persistent, it just was something "there" a few times early in the run. It didn't last (thankfully!). Maybe the birdstrike did some damage after all?!? Haha, I'm confident it'll all be fine ;-)

Rundown:
Down day
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Now playing: stereo mcs - connected

Gittin'er done...

Good run this morning, despite it being ridiculously steamy early on. That seemed to improve as the sun climbed, but the mugginess was pretty heavy starting out.

From Nokomis, I did Harriet and Calhoun and back, and then ran around most of Nokomis to finish it off.

Today marks a first for my long-distance runs this year: I didn't stop during the run. At all. I was lucky with the stop-lights today and only had to slow & swerve a little to get through a couple of them without stopping. The time below is straight through with no stop-n-resume breaks.

I wanted to hit it hard today, since starting next week, I'll have some very busy weekends ahead. And I'm very happy with today's results - I'm definitely feeling good about things.

GPS Rundown:
Chain of Lakes variation
16.70 miles / 2:23:49 time / 8:37 pace
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Now playing: smashing pumpkins - rhinoceros

Quiet Friday evening

...and that's OK. So what if I'm single again, and don't have super fabulous weekend plans? I can either be bummed about it (still am sometimes, I admit), or I can celebrate the great things going on for me right now.

-- I got a raise today. Just a modest one, but it was unexpected. Giddyup!

-- My Minnesota property tax refund came this week - just in time to go right back into my new property ;-)

-- I think my closing will happen on-time after all. An issue arose this week with the seller and the title (looong story), but my loan officer is rockin' it. She stepped in personally today and made it her mission to get it taken care of. Hopefully, now the paperwork gets finalized in enough time. She takes immense pride in closing on the target date, and when there's any threat to that, well... watch out. She's an experienced hard-hitter who knows her way around the system, and I've been really impressed at numerous things she's taken on for me that are well above-and-beyond her expected duties. I'm very lucky to have her on Team Chris

-- Running is going well. Really well.

-- The new baldness is getting good feedback!

And, I don't really have time for any fabulous weekend plans right now anyway - packing calls...
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Now playing: cracker - low

TGIF

I surprised myself with today's numbers - I was very sluggish getting ready for the run, so I didn't expect it to be that fast. Feels good though!

GPS Rundown:
Rogers Lake Figure-8 (mod)
4.60 miles / 38:14 mins / 8:18 pace
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Now playing: styx - mr roboto

Wise words from a wise guy

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today
-- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Think clearly.
Act rightly.
Good things happen.

A work in progress...
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Now playing: operation ivy - knowledge

Chilly air = good run

GPS Rundown:
Rogers Lake Figure-8 (mod)
4.59 miles / 39:13 mins / 8:32 pace
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Now playing: nancy sinatra - bang bang

Hump Day

Nice and cool this morning. Otherwise, NSTR.

GPS Rundown:
Rogers Lake Figure-8
4.55 miles / 40:14 mins / 8:51 pace
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Now playing: green day - when i come around

Bird strike

It was still pretty dark out when I turned south onto Dodd Rd. I looked down to check the path ahead for any obstacles that could cause another ankle incident. In my peripheral vision, I caught a quick flash of movement and then was hit... by a bird! Something grey-colored and very small glanced of my left hip and quickly flew away. I haven't had a bird strike in a long time, and I expect it'll be long time again before I ever have another one.

GPS Rundown:
Rogers Lake Figure-8
4.54 miles / 39:46 mins / 8:45 pace
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Now playing: TMBG - birdhouse in your soul

Dear diary,

Since I'm down to an army-of-one for my TCM training preparation, I'm going to start checking in daily here with how I'm doing. It'll help keep me honest ;-) And starting this past Sunday, I now have a way to use GPS on my runs, so I'll be posting exact mileages (as long as it works!) Unfortunately, the GPS interface doesn't play well yet with Macs, so you are just going to have to take my word for it...

Starting last Saturday (8/2 pre-GPS): I'll call it 16 miles. I walked for a while after I rolled my ankle over, and I became too impatient trying to use gmap-pedometer to figure out how much I actually did. 16 seems fair enough.

Sunday (8/3): 4.55 miles (Rogers Lake Figure-8 route). Note to self: pace much improved with new aerodynamic cranium.

Today: 0 miles. Took the day off to let the legs recover. My quads wanted it. On the plus side, my ankle felt completely normal on yesterday's run. I swear that thing is pure rubber - it may fold over easy, but it just bounces right back. How fast it recovers is freakish, considering that it pops (ick!) all fully out of joint when I roll it. Oh well, I'm just happy that it's fine.

I'm planning to hit the trusty ol' Rogers Figure-8 tomorrow morning. For tonight, packing calls...
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Now playing: chet thomas - you're my thrill

Well, that hiatus was short-lived...

My last post was rather terse. Although I certainly will be busy soon with the move, I feel that I owe y'all an update in the meantime. It's been quite a week...

I've rejoined the ranks of singledom.

How it unfolded has been a challenge to the strength of my recovery program. And, by saying that, I want to be clear that I'm not talking about any temptation to drink over it - I'm grateful to say that hasn't been an issue whatsoever. Rather, I mean the "coping" aspect of it all. There's a part of me that never seems satisfied until I have answers. And that trait has served the thorough hard worker in me very well. However, it can also trigger a lot of stinkin' thinkin' from that addict in me. When it comes to relationships, answers are rarely black-and-white. Some things simply must be accepted at face value, even if not fully understood. Here, a crossroad lies... To chase after answers or resolution to the point of... well... what, exactly? Going down that shoulda-woulda-coulda road of what-ifs & whys rarely--if ever!--leads to a satisfying or happy closing. Alternatively, the other path is acceptance (there it is again!). Acceptance isn't easy when your don't have the answers you desire, but my recovery program resources help me navigate difficult situations like this in a healthy & positive manner.

I'm in no hurry to get back into the dating scene. I'm looking forward to having time to work further on me - that's always time well spent. The new house will keep me plenty busy, and I still have the marathon to prepare for. Additionally, my poor bikes have had a quiet season so far, and I look forward to some great fall riding to make up for that.

The marathon training is coming along fine. I did my first solo long-distance run today and it went very well overall. I did the usual The Lakes run again, but inadvertently ran Lake of The Isles too (long story), so the run overall was just a tad longer than I'd planned! While on the return leg around Calhoun, I thought I was toast when I abruptly rolled my noodley left ankle - the ensuing crash to the ground was rather spectacular. Nearby fellow runners were very nice though, and made sure I was OK. I ended up finishing the last 6+ miles of the run - I'm pretty sure that was not a good idea, but we shall see tomorrow ;-)

And, as of today, I'm bald. Growing out my hair was a fun experiment, but I never was quite happy with it overall. Big change, but I'm liking it...

Peace out!
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Now playing: right said fred - i'm too sexy