Friday, June 12, 2009

Flashback Friday: For I Am a Rain Dog, Too

Stupid Rain
+
Stupid Slippery Watch Buttons
=
Operator Error

Quick, what's another word for donkey?

As promised, I return from the Circle of Doom with not one, but two -- count 'em 1-2 -- failures. However, one of those should have been a win.

It started raining last night during my drive home from work. I fret not the rain. I suited up and strode out the door. A warm up lap exposed a strong headwind at the fourth turn. Two satisfactory intervals in light rain got me prepared. On the third, I kicked through the blustery, final curve and beat my legs toward the line. I reached across my chest to press the lap button on my watch. I looked down and saw 1:40. Dang. Then I saw 1:41. Ohfuck.

And now the statistical rundown:
  • Intervals: 6 x 400 meters
  • Goal pace: 6:26-6:42 per mile
  • Lap 1: 1:38.31 (6:34 per mile)
  • Lap 2: 1:39.55 (6:38 per mile)
  • Lap 3: 1:41.55 (6:46 per mile) FAIL
  • Lap 4: 1:41.74 (6:46 per mile) FAIL
  • Lap 5: 1:38.27 (6:34 per mile)
  • Lap 6: 1:37.88 (6:30 per mile)
  • Average pace: 6:38 per mile
  • Total distance: 4.7 miles
[Drunkard's note: Total distance includes one mile warm up, 400-meter recovery laps and one mile cool down.]

The rain picked up in the middle of my track visit. The puddles swelled. I was soaked, and my shoes squashed with each step. Good times.

Just a Number
This Sunday is Flag Day. And if you haven't figured it out, Flag Day is my birthday. I'll be 30. Some people worry about this number, and getting older in general. I just figure I'm growing into my personality. I was born to sit on front porches and shout at young vagrants from my rocking chair.

Here are some things that will change on Sunday.

I will be in a new age group for racing, and I hope you
bastards are slow. All my younger friends and loved ones will say I'm old, but I will remind them that they're next. I will be in the same decade as my siblings, which only happens once a decade. I can fondly reminisce about my 20s. And I will be that much closer to routine colonoscopies and prostate exams.

That's it.

I enjoy my life. It's not as if I'm going to stop enjoying it because of my birthday. Besides, I plan on living until I'm 120. I'm only a quarter of the way there. I've got many more miles to run and kegs to tap before I ride this donkey into the sunset.



My birthday present to myself will be a five-mile hangover run at race pace tomorrow morning and a 10-mile long run on Sunday. And of course, I will be imbibing of the spirits for the majority of the weekend. Cheers to me, bitches.

Back Talk
Wherein I keep the entries to a minimum because I've already given you as much entertainment as you can take.

Pregnant Jess gets all motherly on my getting sunburned: "How come men seem to believe that sunscreen is voodoo? If it weren't for me, I'm certain my husband would have melanoma by now."

Answer: I did put on sunscreen. After I'd been out in the sun for hours.

Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates. Have a finely brewed weekend. Good luck to those of you who are racing. And to all, run well and drink well. The boat to Blackout Isle leaves shortly. All aboard!

17 comments:

Ian said...

Happy Birthday and happy weekending to you. I'll be on board the boat to Blackout Isle this weekend as I'm attending my wife's family reunion. Any advice on which boat will get me there the fastest?

Unknown said...

I liked the jump to the older age group. I was able to place a little higher. Darn college kids in the 20's. Happy birthday.

C said...

You have siblings?! Huh, and here I thought the Antichrist was an only child.

Happy birthday, lush. As another present to yourself, you might want to make a point of not permanently killing your liver this weekend. That would defeat your goal of living for another 90 years.

Have a great weekend.

Turi Becker said...

Huh, I think the 30-39 guys are even faster, somehow. They got more serious or something. I'm looking forward to turning 40, already.

Cheers to the birthday...

Nitmos said...

I see you suffer from the mid interval let down before the late interval re-accelerations as well. Still, nicely done despite the 2 FAILs.

Happy 30.

Jess said...

Actually, I think the AG gets more competitive in the 30s, so watch out, you're gonna get smoked!

And so now I'm "Pregnant Jess"? And yeah, sunscreen doesn't help AFTER you are already burning! You are seemingly using the exact same logic as my husband. Must be an embedded man-gene.

Jess said...

Oh, and "Happy Birthday!" The 30s are where are all the cool kids are at, yo.

Aileen said...

Happy birthday! I never understood why people get all bent out of shape about turning 30 anyway. I figure 30 = being more awesome. So, go you :)

tfh said...

Happy birthday!

I'd add banjo-strumming to that list of reasons you're growing into your mature personality. A dying art among our youth, that's for sure.

Mike said...

Happy birthday! Bad news, though. Joining new age groups doesn't help much until some of those guys start dying off.

Ms. V. said...

new age group.

you were born the year I got sober. how scary is that?

Unknown said...

Another word for donkey ??? Hmmm.. Jackass. Is that what you are looking for?

Happy Birthday to you! My wife's birthday is also on Flag's Day as well. This is where I need to bust my tail and get something for my wife soon.

mr loser said...

Good times and happy b-day. You may do better in the new bracket: seems like the 30-34 age group often runs slower those at 35-39 and 40-44. But that could just be wishful thinking. Cheers

joyRuN said...

Happy Birthday! We get to share age groups for a scant 5 months before I move on to 35. Man, I feel old.

Women in that new age group are even faster. B*tches.

Al's CL Reviews said...

Happy Birthday!

BrianFlash said...

Age is attitude - I've never been worried about my age and I'm getting ready to become 42. Maybe the big 50 will be when I break down and cry and wish I was 30, but I kind of doubt it.

Enjoy the moment!

X-Country2 said...

I'm supposed to turn 30 in November. Thankfully, I've made a deal with the devil.