Monday, December 18, 2006

Of Christmas cats and Christmas trees

We're getting all tuned up for the season and even Cody is in the mood.
A lot overexposed but a neat effect I think.

Just time to make a few comments about my Sunday long run with Andrew before I fall asleep on the couch again. These runs are always so differerent in some ways but like a comfortable blanket in other ways. Sometimes it's the weather which can be exposed and nasty in places, though it was quite benign this week with temperature around 33F (1C) and just a touch of wind. Other weeks it will be a different mix of runners whether it's Marc, or Steph, or Jon but always old reliable Andrew (did you know he's about to become an age grouper?)

And then there's always the various aches and pains and accumulated weariness that we bring to each run. It often takes about 1/2 the run to explain where and what the latest 'injury' is doing. I had made the time honored mistake of running late the day before and was running of fumes almost from the start of this long run and had alot of complaining to do today. (Note to self: always run as early as possible on the day before a long run, especially if it's with Andrew). Despite the tired sore legs that never seemed to loosen up we still managed to move along at a good pace. I simply can't explain the 21 miles at 7:5x pace when if felt like 8:30's from the beginning and then the last 7 miles felt even slower but were 7:40's. Go figure.

So run completed, time to go home, not so tough now was it? Boy, did that brownie taste good!

9 comments:

Jamie Anderson said...

Great job on the long run. Tree looks great also!

Phil said...

Love the cat. I'll need to post my Christmas Dog pics.

Hey .. some of us don't understand the phrase, "... though it was quite benign this week with temperature around 33F". Still seems darn right cold to me. Very impressive running in that temperature.

Andrew said...

Great run Mike! Those brownies call us home.

Thomas said...

How come Andrew says it's always you who pushes the tempo during those runs, yet reading your entry one would think it's an entirely different scenario?

If you hang one more tinsel onto that tree, it might collapse.

UMaine Cooperative Extension said...

The dynamic duo! You guys really cook on those long runs. Looking forward to trying to keep up in January.

Love2Run said...

Actually the tree is tied to the wall so it can't fall over when the cat decides to go for the top. And it really has some green showing, just the overexposed effect.

Can't explain who the pace-pusher is Thomas. It just happens and we really try to hold back (at least until we can smell the barn). Just another wet log in the fire...

Unknown said...

Your Sunday runs always sound like good times and good running. I like the festive cat.

DawnB said...

looks like you are back Mike great job!!!

Michael said...

Nice tree, ours photo is a tad underexposed

Good luck with the training and I’ll see you in Boston, if only we can run like Ralph Walker (if you’re not familiar see Saint Ralph).