And I'm the boy that passes through these towns

September 17-20

Off (Yoga), Off (Doctor), 7.5mi w/ LSCC.

Saw Dr. Todd on Tuesday. His office is a block away from the streets that hold my course-record half-marathon. He said the pain I felt coughing after City of Lakes was likely a sports hernia. I reminded him that I hadn't had a sports hernia before, which meant it had to have started sometime and that's impossible based on everything I learned last week. He called me a poor-man's Pat Russell and told me to see a surgeon. So I called the surgeon. Consultation is 10/3.

It's my call whether to run the marathon. I've sought some advice. A sampling:

Hooley - "Hernias is not always good. Much the opposite."
Sherman - "Fuck, dude. That sucks"
Phil - "Maybe go easy on the doing it for a while..."
Schrades - "Do you just need some You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet?"

And,
Biz - "I mean, you're hurt anyway. Might as well schedule the surgery and go balls-to-the-wall."

Impermanence, Biz. Impermanence. Of course, his rebuttal is the same...that's the thing about impermanence...

September 10-16

2mi, Off, 7mi, 4mi, 7mi, 4mi, 16mi. Body was still declining to cool down on Monday. Body felt better on Wednesday and mind felt somewhat rested. On Thursday I ran a mile on the river in 5:25 to prove I couldn't hit 5:40 pace. Friday and Saturday were both easy, but congested, and Sunday was a somewhat baffling Legend of Minneapolis.

I limit the amount of bafflement to "somewhat" because earlier in the week I had been abruptly tutored in the Eastern philosophies that subtly control Minnesota's system of parkways, hospitals and justice. Experience is Samsara and how silly I must seem, deigning to pinpoint finality! It's something I understand innately - witness this week's training, which existed without beginning or end! - and only confuse when I approach intellectually. Fortunately, I've easily abandoned intellect before and anticipate few problems doing so, star...continuing to do so...

September 9

17mi, City of Lakes 25K (1:31:26): I was very happy with about 80% of this race. Splits were 6:03, 5:55, 5:53, 11:47, 5:45, 5:48, 5:42, 5:47, 5:50, 5:45, 5:48, 5:55, 6:01, 6:05, 3:11. Ran with Dan and Biz for the first seven miles, and those were seven of the most enjoyable racing miles since college. We deliberately picked it up after 5mi, and Dan took off at 10 to do that thang he do. I resolved to hold it between 5:45 and 5:50 to finish and was unsuccessful. Over the last 3mi my hips/core began to tighten in a fashion reminiscent of miles 7-8 at New Prague. I finished and stretched before things got too bad, but my body declined to cool down. Body did accept a post-race invitation to Zumbro.

Week: 36.5mi/5days. And something's up.

September 8

4mi, Shortcut Untimed. Standard pre-meet.

September 7

3mi, Arb 5K Loop. Headed down to Northfield with parents and brother to watch the women's XC meet and to confirm that sister had, in fact, returned from France. Had been excited about doing a nice Pig Farm or something, but must have tossed my shoes in the celebratory bonfire I usually build for myself when I'm excited about a run. They did not make it to Northfield, nor did they make it onto my feet. Dan's shoes did, but barely. Stopped after 3mi of awkwardness. Even Coach T agreed it was a bad idea to continue.

September 6

8.5mi, Modified Gawkah (biker pace or faster): Good run on a nice night. Crossed the 10th ST bridge and ran into Biz on his bike. Made him take the long way home. Discussed finality.

Showered and Blue-Blazered

September 3-5
4mi, Off (yoga), Off.

People are always coming up to me on the street and saying, "Tom, we love your work on the blog. It's just, well, sometimes we want to read a heartrending description of the General Difficulties you face each day as an unassailably attractive 25 year old white male in the midwest blessed with social grace and the genius of soul-defining wisdom." It happens all the time.

September 2

Day Off. It's worth remembering that weeks are artificial units of trainaj and that one does not automatically recover because it is Monday.

Week: Weak. 48mi/5days.

September 1

21mi, 2:20ish. 12-13up, 5@MP, The Rest down. All on the TCM course w/Dan & Nick. Sherman made the more reasonable decision to sleep until 3 or 4pm. Picked it up with Dan when we hit the river: 6:11, 6:08, 6:03, 5:59, 5:58. It got hot and we packed it in. Dan was chipper enough to bound on the cool down. I was not.

August 31

10mi, easy. Run Rabbit w/Gehring. Felt decent.

August 30

4mi, Shortcut Untimed. My cup runneth over.

August 29

9mi, wkout. 4mi WU, 2x1600m @T, 3mi CD. The stands at the U's track were about 1/4 full for my planned 6x1600m effort. Such is the blessing of greatness. Alas, the blessing failed to extend to my physical prowess, and my fans turned on me. So fickle, the commoner. Quickly uninterested in my Human Struggle, they chose instead to watch the glittering marching band in the parking lot behind the track. I writhed to 5:37, 5:36, 83s and looked, gasping, to the vacant heavens. Faintly, masked by the horns and drums and stomping to my right, a child applauded. It was not hopeful, but it was a good thing. I think it is maybe the best of things.

August 28

Day Off. Litigating.

August 27

4mi, Shortcut Untimed.