Is it spring yet?

It might as well be with this piddly “winter” weather that comes and goes as it pleases. I know what kind of heat and humidity is coming our way this summer, but I still find myself looking forward to it because at least summer will be a real, recognizable season. I don’t quite know what to do with myself when natural laws don’t behave as laws should.

I think I’m just generally discombobulated. My running schedule has devolved into a half-assed version of a schedule because of some recurring pain in my IT band and a bizarre back injury that occurred as I was walking from the parking lot to my office. I took a breath, felt a twinge, and startled everyone in a 30-foot radius with a not particularly ladylike “huuuuunnnhhhhh!!” Some high doses of Tylenol and ibuprofen and a few hours later, I was pretty easily mobile, but the vague discomfort is still there. I really should see a chiropractor, but I’m shepherding ~35 students’ applications toward March 1 and March 2 deadlines. 35 is about 10 more than I can reasonably see in a week, so I’m picking up the slack via email after hours. I’m not really, really complaining, since after March 2, we’re on spring break. Well, the students will be on spring break and I’ll still be in the office, but at least I’ll have plenty of time to catch my breath before they come back.

In spite of my spotty training, I still managed to knock off another “longest run” record this morning. 14 miles. All on the treadmill. I learned a few things in the process. I don’t want to do it all the time, but long runs on a treadmill do offer the convenience of readily-available sustenance and bathrooms without having to carry anything or hold it till you reach the next gas station. I put away about 40 oz. of water over the 2 hours and 40 minutes it took, and a package of Clif Shot Bloks (high-calorie fruit chewy things that have become necessary after 7 or 8 miles). Also, I watched the last part of episode 6 of Downton Abbey, 2 episodes of Breaking Bad, and an episode of Columbo courtesy of the iPad and my handy little iPod dock speaker, all perched on the treadmill’s shelf.

The tougher lesson I learned was about how LONG long runs differ fundamentally from long runs. A miniscule bit of stubble in the armpits isn’t negligible after 2 and a half hours of pumping your arms back and forth. I will henceforth be more careful about shaving as well as using Bodyglide for the next LONG long run, because I gotta say, I’m not that crazy about having to put neosporin on red, raw spots in my armpits instead of deodorant.

I’m supposed to do 16 next Sunday, but we’ll see how the week goes. I do know that if I do it outside, I’m going to need more gear and a bigger map. I have a 10-oz bottle with an elastic handle that I like, and I can stop and refill it at gas stations here and there, I suppose. As I add on more mileage, I’ll be going farther out past civilization and I have grown to loathe the panic of “Do I have enough water to get back?” I’ve had my eye on this for a while, and I think it’s going in my Amazon cart today:

The bonus is the pocket for my iPhone, which does me the favor of keeping my mind occupied, keeping track of my route, mileage, and speed, and gives me the out of calling Spouse to come get me if I blow a tire. If I only knew 15 years ago that one day I’d be excited about buying a souped-up version of a fanny pack.

I’ve contemplated “just” doing the half marathon over the last week or so as I’ve given in to frustration about my leg and my back, but right now my stubbornness is winning the day. There are some complications with my schedule (a 3-day trip to New Orleans in March, a 2 1/2-week trip to the UK in May) that haven’t been resolved to my satisfaction, so honestly, who knows what will happen? Won’t it be fun to see how it all plays out?