Thursday, March 18, 2010

TOILET PAPER GODS

With our Team Training Camp this weekend coach had me do my long run last night. With the loss of our dear friend Perry I dedicated each mile of this run to him.

My instructions from coach was to run this real easy…9:45 pace per mile. The theory was to keep the legs fresh for three days of riding this weekend. So I mapped a 1.4 mile loop that I would complete 6 times. I normally NEVER would do this many loops of a course but I was trying to keep it safe and close to the Sports Club where I would then complete an upper body strength session following the run.

Here are the numbers:

First loop: 8:12 avg pace

Second loop: 8:05 avg pace

Third loop: 8:16 avg pace

Forth loop: forgot to hit lap button on watch

Fifth loop: forgot to hit lap button on watch

Six loop: finished with an overall run time of 1:06:02 (avg pace overall 8:15)

Now let me mention something about the second loop. I received a “warning” that I needed to possibly find a bathroom but ignored it. Once the alarms really went off again I practically sprinted to a set of restrooms located at a park I would pass. NO FREAKING TOILET PAPER in the woman’s restroom. This sent me into a panic mode and after making the decision to check the men’s restroom for paper I very quickly relieved that the bathroom was occupied. Remember that I was in panic mode and all clear thinking is non-existent. So I leave there and spot one more set of restrooms across the parking lot. Do I run? Do I walk? The toilet paper GODS were watching over me and there on the roll was barely enough paper. HOLY COW that was close.

So back to my pace…To be honest I never did the math in my head to realize that I was way off the prescribed pace. I just got lost in the loops thinking on our friend. On my way home from the gym I called my oldest son and we began talking more about the Half Marathon on his Marine base that takes place in ONE WEEK. March 27th. This is going to be a pretty cool race for the both of us!

Robin

8 comments:

Marlene said...

Oh no, worst nightmare with the toilet paper!!

Awesome job on the run and dedicating those miles to Perry.

Dave said...

Cherish those moments...the ones with your friends...the race with you son. They will bring you great joy when you think back on them....and there will be no regrets.

Wes said...

I had to stop TWICE last night on my run. The first time there wasn't any TP to be found :-( It's amazing what you can do to be creative! LOL...

Sometimes, you need to let things out, ya know... Nice job on the mileage :-)

Lily on the Road said...

I'm sure Perry would have seen the humour in the toliet paper situation!

Your race next week with you son will be awesome, enjoy!!

Kevin said...

Great job on the long run. I have been lucky so far to not have any accidents, though last year I ran a trail where I passed a well stocked bathroom every 4 miles or so. Sometimes I think I should carry a little baggie with tp just in case

teacherwoman said...

Glad you were able to find some TP! YIKES!

Cheri said...

Too bad you didn't have one of your gloves with you. LOL!!

Judi said...

oh god. no TP. not a fun time. glad you were able to get in a good run dedicated to your friend.