Friday, June 26, 2009

Flashback Friday: You Hear the Door Slam and Realize There's Nowhere Left to Run

The only FAILs yesterday were my weather forecast and Michael Jackson's heart.

Instead of 86 degrees with 54 percent humidity and a 10 percent chance of rain, I headed to the track in a full-bore thunderstorm and heard on the radio later that the National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning. Thanks goodness for all that rain, because I was on FYAH!

Which reminds me again of Michael Jackson. I remember one January day in 1984, when I was just a wee tippler. I was awake begrudgingly early in the morning, listening to the news on the car radio as my parents drove me to the hospital to have my tonsils removed and tubes put in my ears. That was the morning after the King of Pop's hair caught on fire when he was filming a Pepsi commercial. I clearly remember thinking, "I'll be in the hospital the same time as Michael Jackson. Cool."

I don't think he was ever the same after that. There was no way he could top Thriller, and he proved it a few years later when he released Bad. He seemed to just get weirder and weirder. And I'll just leave it at that. I won't speak ill of the dead. R.I.P.

And now the statistical rundown:
  • Intervals: 7 x 400 meters
  • Goal pace: Sub-1:40 per interval (6:42 per mile)
  • Lap 1: 1:39.22 (6:38 per mile)
  • Lap 2: 1:34.72 (6:18 per mile)
  • Lap 3: 1:35.62 (6:22 per mile)
  • Lap 4: 1:33.62 (6:14 per mile)
  • Lap 5: 1:34.82 (6:18 per mile)
  • Lap 6: 1:24.59 (5:38 per mile) Who's bad?
  • Lap 7: 1:28.04 (5:54 per mile)
  • Average pace: 1:32.96 (6:10 per mile)
  • Total distance: 5.2 miles
[Drunkard's note: Total distance includes one mile warm up, 400-meter recovery laps and one mile cool down.]

As opposed to last week's track and brutal 12-miler, yesterday felt great. I love these redeeming runs. I had to fight through the wind and rain, which was hard and stinging during the third and fourth intervals. But then I got a spectator-induced boost for those final two laps. I laughed at myself when I saw those 1:20s. I guess I like to show off.

Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates. Have a finely brewed weekend, and good luck to all you racers. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

Now, beat it. Just beat it.

14 comments:

chia said...

I was chillin' on the back patio of a friend's house last night when one guy pulled out an acoustic guitar and starting strumming a familiar tune... it took awhile before I realized he was singing along "ya know i'm bad, i'm bad, you know it."

Like really, even the hippies died a little on the inside.

Happy weekend man!

C said...

Looks like we were in the hospital at about the same time as kids for the same procedures. Well, my sister was the one getting her tonsils yanked and I was getting tubes in my ears, but still.

Have a great weekend.

Ian said...

My friend and I were retelling all the old Michael Jackson jokes last night in his honor... because we're a-holes.

Jess said...

You're right, maybe that hair fire scorched things a little too close to the brain!

Still, "Thriller" was totally killer. There are only about 10 other albums as perfect as that.

Aileen said...

I wish I'd been old enough to remember the flaming hair incident, but I was two and my main focus was (is?) fooding.

Glad you got the redeeming run in...I'm hoping for one myself because I know tomorrow's going to be a disaster. 11 Miles in 92 degree weather with bad humidity. Now who's bad?

Nitmos said...

You are getting pretty speedy there. Sign up for a 5k immediately. You are Dangerous.

Lauren said...

His attourney said on the news this morning that the pepsi commercial was when he started becoming addicted to pain killers. So weird.

How'd you get so fast?

BrianFlash said...

Getting faster as the workout goes on - impressive!

I always think that someone who gets faster isn't trying hard enough during the first few intervals.

Vava said...

Nice stats there! Very speedy indeed. I guess the only thing I can say is you should always pretend that an audience is present.

Ms. V. said...

I totally forgot about the Pepsi commercial!

Beat it! Funny!

mr loser said...

Great times, stay after it!

joyRuN said...

Dang - very nicely done on those 400s.

Jess said...

Wow nice job with the intervals esp. in the crappy weather!

Unknown said...

Great job. Even in the bad weather.