The Pinball Machine in My Mind

My thoughts have been going in a jillion directions today. This seems to happen to me when I'm away from home and work for a while, especially when it involves new ideas and learning as it did at the retreat. I come home primed for action. I look around the house and see how far behind I am on the big things, but put that aside because I've missed too many days of daily stuff. I managed to get groceries and pay bills last night, write my post and read a few blogs. Today I went to work - 50 kajillion emails, papers on my desk, projects and plans midway through. After touching base with my admin assistant (for well over an hour), I caught up on emails and phone messages, sorted through papers, sent out emails to initiate a few new ideas I picked up, and did some proof-reading. I kept popping up to tell Virginia about other things I learned, what other colleges were doing, and to check on works-in-progress. Finally I put it to paper - I created a to-do list: 24 items - no wonder my thoughts were pin-balling around! Add to that thoughts about Riley graduating, trying to decide how much to taper this week, planning to leave for yet another long drive and long run...I'm feeling a little anxious, a little overwhelmed.

So then I ask myself, why are you reading blogs and writing a new post? Why don't you knock something off the home list? I already know the answer - it's just me and always has been. The more stress I feel, the more I resist. The more I am pushed, the slower I go. Eventually, the balls in my head will quit shooting around and fall into the right slots. I'll find my self in the zone - hitting my pace and holding it, and it will all get done. I'm not quite there today...maybe it'll come tomorrow. I'm a girl who likes routine - and this past weekend of travel, home one night and gone the next, has discombobulated me. I'm a little concerned that hitting the road again this weekend will make it early next week before I find that zone. I guess not running my normal amount could contribute to all of the above too. And maybe I'm a little tired and cranky. Ya think? Well, enough of the rambling. On to the running...

I ran for five miles with Rick this morning - just under an hour, nice and easy. It felt great to be out there again. I've been debating about tomorrow - I think I'll go out for at least four. I had some minor stiffness in the hips Monday morning, but it was gone by noon and I have felt fine ever since. My toes are looking good - I went band-aid free today for the first time since Mt. Si. (I did do the moleskin doughnut while running though).

I began reading Fixing Your Feet, and I'm only a few chapters into it and already have some ideas about what to fix. One thing is that I checked into my shoes a little more and found out this latest version had been tapered - the review I read said that if old model was a good fit, then get a wide version of the new model. Hmmmm. I haven't worn the Nimbus before, but following the advice of the book, I pulled out the original insoles and stood in them. My feet hang over on both sides - which is probably how I ended up with new blisters on the big toe joint. The running store guy never mentioned that they had been narrowed. I can't wait to finish the book and find out what else to look for.

Another discovery from the weekend - at the Expo I picked up a couple samples of Biofreeze. I'd left the stuff I usually use at home and thought I might want something. On the way home in the car, my legs were aching - they just wouldn't stop. So at a rest area somewhere in the middle of Oregon, I pulled out the sample and put it to use. I commented to Rob and Eric that I couldn't feel it and didn't think it would work. A little while later I felt the cold sensation start. And that was it. The aches were gone - completely gone. I actually slept that night - and I usually can't sleep the night after a marathon. I am exhausted, but I can't relax. No problems this time though. I'm going to get a tube of it and see if it works again. I'll report back after Vancouver.

And one last thing - something that I find hard to believe - I had two sub 11-minute miles and seven sub 12-minute miles in Eugene. All the rest were 12 to 13-something. I am amazed and thrilled - fast times for this back-of-packer and in a marathon! Wow. I am not going to plan for that or aim for that or anything in the next two. I'm going to do what I always do - go run by feel and see what shakes out at the end. Maybe it'll be my new fast, maybe not. I do need to finish in under six hours in Vancouver though - they have a time limit. I think I can do it.

Signing off from the edge of the continent, where the toes have healed, the mind is boggling and the next race is three days away!