Days 18 and 19: Stine - "Marco-Confession"

How can you NOT love this group.  Everyone ran a 'minimum 3' and then capped off the night with bottomless beers, a gift exchange, and of course - FOOD!  The 5th Quarter has donated countless pizzas to us (our HFCRC running club) all year. Tonight was one of many nights to patronize them...and boy did we!  However, with all the desserts, pizza, and beer, we more than took in our 3 miles of burned calories...possibly in the first five minutes alone :)  I received a lovely IPA from Eric in the exchange - which, might I add, comes was an amazing freezer bag!!! Yep....a bag to keep your beer/wine chilled, you know - when you need to take it with you "on the go".  I really like how he thinks :)

Again, we're on a mild weather pattern this week compared to the past week and a half.  However, it was windy.  The temperature was hovering in the low to mid 30s, but with winds near 20mph at times, it was "feeling like" something in the teens.  I was tempted to do 5 miles tonight as I surprisingly felt good, but dang it, the groups slapped me silly and I went straight to the bar at 3.01 miles.

By the time I was home at 9:30pm, I quickly realized the only time I was going to have to run tomorrow on Thursday, Day 19, was early morning...as in 12 hours from my run tonight.  Reluctantly, I showered - knowing that I was going to shower again in the morning after ANOTHER RUN.

Here comes a "Marco-confession".  The next morning I woke up at 5:15.  I needed to run even earlier this morning because dang it, we were out of milk so I ALSO had to go to the store after running, before breakfast (these dang kids aren't shopping for themselves yet!).  And guess what, half asleep and quite possibly not the most logical and well-thought out decision I'd made in a while....

wait for it....wait for it....

I RECYCLED some of my marcothon wear.

Dun. Dun. DUN!!!

Yep, I glanced over at the clothes from the night before hung across the bathtub: pants, shirts (2 of them in layers) and the windbreaker..... I had a clean sportbra/underwear/socks - but everything else went right back on.  I could barely stand myself walking down the stairs - but gosh dangit, the laundry is getting OUT. OF. CONTROL.  As soon as I started running, I told myself it really didn't matter if they were clean or dirty.  But by mile 3 I was thinking straight again and realized that I had stooped to all new low in the marco-madness: Rationalizing in the state of sleep deprivation that 3 mile dirty clothing REALLY isn't that dirty.

So, I think I need help.

Lucky for me, my next run isn't till the BIG STRADDLE RUN for days 20/21 on Friday night!  We have a HUGE group doing it and it should be a blast.  And don't worry, I plan to show up fresh and clean - but do plan on wearing the same clothes for both 3 miles sets.  Somehow in a straddle run, it seems to be ok :)

Oh yeah - at our group run on the 18th, THIS was the dessert our new HFCRC member brought. Yep...and there was raw chocolate chip cookie dough inside.  I REALLY need to run more mileage to make up for this special goodness.

Day 18 Run Data HERE

Wednesday Run

DEC 18, 2013  -  6:33 PM

MI

3.02

DURATION

26:52

AVERAGE PACE

8:54

CALORIES BURNED

448

Day 19 Run Data HERE

Thursday Run

DEC 19, 2013  -  5:43 AM

MI

3.04

DURATION

27:23

AVERAGE PACE

9:01

CALORIES BURNED

344

Day 18 Archer I got to get there

Sure I could stay in the neighborhood and get my Marcomiles in.  But it's Wednesday night I am stressed as usual.  The HFCRC group run departs Irwin Park at 6:30 sharp.  Usually there are 3 and 5 mile routes posted, but tonight is our gift exchange.  Working the 3-5 shift at the library's reference desk means I am eying the clock and patrons.  If I miss the 5:18 train, there is no chance of making the run.  5 til I turn off the phone; 4:57 our Ask a Librarian instant message service.  4:50 to 5:00 is the longest stretch as I eye everyone walking by and praying that they don't need help.  (any other time I love helping people)  5:00, nobody needs help so I turn on the computer, lock up the keyboard and mouse, quickly don the coat with hat/gloves that I had stashed under the desk with no time to run to office.  Success as I am standing on the train platform with 3 minutes to spare and all is well.

Wrinkle comes in the form of a call from my step son who was suppose to give me a ride from home to the park. In short is was "Sorry, a headlight is out, I bought one, but I couldn't figure out how to change it so I left the car at home for you."  Shit, I don't have time to fix it, change and drive there.  Of course opening the garage door I can't help myself but try for 3 minutes to unclasped the hinge holding the bulb in place.  Whose fingers do these engineers design this for?  Time is still ticking, into the house to put on the running layers, throw Joel's gift in a empty camelbak bag,time check again, 6:18.  That gives me about ten minutes to run to the park.  Streets in my neighborhood are clear, sidewalk along the busy 183 st are clear except the last 3 long blocks.  The street is too full to run in as the sidewalk turns into rutted packed snow.  I don't want to fall but I can't afford to slow down.  I finally turn the corner to see running headlamps 3 blocks away.  Luckily for me the route will have them run in my direction.  One block away I do a 180 to join the group.  I think Eric was in the same position but ran a little later.  He caught the cluster that I was in close about a mile into the run.  Of course it's easy for a speed demon to chase us down with his sub 7 legs.

Unlike my last several runs, this was more at a working pace, slurred a few words talking to fellow Marcothoner Tabitha and the other is the faster clusters.  I felt myself being dropped a bit and Tabitha fell back (figured I couldn't escape) with me even after I said that I was good.  Okay, I toughed it out the rest of the route.

1.6 miles to the group runs and 2.9 miles to 5th Quarter (this course was a little short so Tabitha has to run another block and back to get her 3 Marcomiles in) in 41:48 for an overall average pace of 9:17.

Great time with the group at 5th Quarter, pizza, treats that some had brought to the party, mean Santa Eric Z officiated the exchange.  My wife even joined us for awhile. I had arranged this so that she would hang with the group of friends that I am so happy to have.  I think it also helps for her to see that my craziness is shared by others.