One last speedy hurrah...

I wanted to make my last run before the Run for Missions 100-miler (www.runformissions.org) a good one. I didn't want to wish I'd done more. My plan was to go all out for 5K, giving me a decent time for the run4nyc 5K (www.run4nyc.com) and a good sweat in the heat. Friday's high is predicted to be near 80, so I had to run this afternoon. It was only 66, but that's better than nothing.

I started out running up Welton which has a slight uphill slant. Very slight. In Colorado this might even be considered downhill. I pushed through the first quarter mile heaving of the lungs and finally found my rhythm and my breath.

I turned west on Maple and ran to Main. As I passed the church, my friend, our youth pastor, Marc, was just getting out of his car. He asked how far I was running. I was going pretty fast, so I just breathed out an answer and ran on.

Turning on Main, I headed south. I ran past the packed parking lot at the polling place. Go vote! I ran on and hit the lights just right so I didn't have to stop at all. I sped along the sidewalk crossed each crosswalk quickly.

I turned east on Sixth and ran the bricks out of downtown, then plunged down the hill by Sixth Street Park. I ran up the little incline to Howard feeling pretty good. I was sweating really good by this time. Woohoo!

I made my final full turn onto Howard and ran up the steeper part of the hill leading back toward home. I pushed a little and started feeling a little nauseous. I ran on and that subsided some. I had to pause for just a second or two at the highway before I ran across and hit the afterburners. I covered the last half of the block in under 20 seconds and stopped my watch at 23:11, tying my own PR from a year or so ago. I guess all those long miles have done some good. (3.11 miles @ 7:27)

Last sort of long run...

I went out for a little run this evening. My first mile was with my wife. We ran and walked a little. When we got to the mile mark, she turned around and ran back home and I continued on.

My original plan was to replicate the route I'd taken for each of my laps during my 50K last Tuesday, but I made a few alterations to it along the way. I'd hate to get in a rut. I enjoyed most of the run. My only concern was the ache in my injured shoulder that started around the six mile mark. It would not be good if that happened Friday. Ugh! No time to think and worry about that.

I plan to run a 5K tomorrow for the run4nyc fundraiser and then call it good till Friday morning at 5:00 when I start my 100-miler. Be sure to join my Facebook group if you want updates throughout my run. (7.44 miles @ 9:50)

Run for NYC...

Join the run4nyc virtual marathon, half marathon or 5K for fun. You have a week to run your distance and enter a time. Give to help those hurt by Sandy's fury. 100% of proceeds go to the American National Red Cross relief fund. Thanks to the founders of dailymile for setting this up!

Less rest than expected...

I was at the grocery store this afternoon when Brandon's wife said hi and mentioned that he and Dan M. were leaving on a ride. I jumped in my car and drove home quickly. I called Dan's cell and caught him. They were less than a mile away. They'd come back and get me.

I dressed quickly, aired up the tires on my long-neglected road bike and opened the garage door just as the two of them were pulling up. I was excited.

We left town headed north. The wind was blowing fairly hard in our faces as we headed up Highway 281. We talked incessantly as we cruised along. We had a lot of catching up to do. The last time I was on my road bike was September 8. It might have been longer than that ago that the three of us were together.

We got to Iuka, rode through town, then headed east. Dan took off as we were rounding a curve. When we caught up with him at the Evergreen Rest Area, he was fixing his shifter cable. It had broken and he was getting the bike into a gear he could manage better. When he was done, we headed back the way we'd come.

The way home was much more enjoyable. The wind was at our backs. We talked as we sped along. When we were back on 281, we mashed the pedals harder so that Brandon could get his average up. I slotted in behind Dan and held on. Our average started to climb. By the time we passed BTI, it was up where Brandon wanted. We pressed on and brought it up more.

The speedfest lasted until we turned onto Maple. Then it was back to conversational pace. Brandon turned left at Stout. Dan and I turned right. We chatted as we rode down to School, then east toward our houses. Dan peeled off at Edgeford and I turned into my driveway. (21.42 miles @ 16.5mph)

My wife was home from working at the school when I got off my bike. She wanted to go for a run, so I changed clothes. We walked around the block, then started to run. We ran and walked on and off for a little over a mile, then turned around and ran back the way we'd come. We walked our cool down. We were done. (2.13 miles @ 12:02)

Sweat and snot be gone...

If you've been running or cycling for long, you've had to deal with sweat in your eyes on hot days or snot dripping from your nose when the temperature dips. Sometimes both hit in the same workout. Wiping it away with your bare hand or the inside of your jersey works, but it's not the most pleasant thing.

Enter the Handana. This handy piece of athletic gear fits like a fingerless glove and grabs a hold of perspiration and nasal drainage better than terry cloth. One swipe of the Handana across your forehead and the sweat's gone. Rub it under your nose and you're all clean.

Are there other solutions to these problems? Of course. The Handana is just one option. Is it better than others. It depends on your preference. I personally do not like having a sweatband on my head, so the Handana works well for me. It takes care of things more efficiently than the small swatch of terry cloth on my cycling gloves.

GIVEAWAY: J.P. Harvey won a red Handana on Thursday, Novemeber 8, at 5:00am. A big thank you goes to Katie at Handana for making this giveaway possible.

Shake out...

Nice and easy. That's what I've got to do for the next week as I wait for the Run for Missions 100-miler to come around. Nothing terribly strenuous or difficult.

I loped around town turning this way and that as it fancied me. I was going to run out on Lake Road, but quickly realized I probably didn't have time to do that. I wandered instead. I saw two or three runners and about the same number of walkers. I was barked at vigorously at least once.

Nothing terribly exciting here. I ran by the courthouse to see what the hours for advanced voting are. I thought they were posted on the door. They weren't. I guess I'll have to call later. I've already voted. I'm checking for my wife.

I ran back home from the courthouse. Nothing hurts more than normal. I'm just a little sweaty. I'm headed to the shower before my daughter takes all the hot water. (4.28 miles in 40:32)