Running In Place

Ok, I’ll dispense with the sad first

On Thursday, my son’s pet rat died.

Ratski was old for a rat (2 years) and had been growing a mammary gland tumor for awhile. She was a sweet litte critter.

For those cringing at the thought of a snuggly lil’ rat - they really do make great pets. They are very intelligent and trainable, and they are affectionate and will bond with you - more so than other little rodents like gerbils or hamsters. Their drawback is their short lifespans and the fact that many pet store rats are lab overflow and have been bred to develop tumors. My son was pretty stoic about it - being nearly 15 and all, he wasn’t quite willing to cry in front of us, but he kept vigil with her wrapped in a towel the whole while she was doing her dying.

“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would have it no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan….” - Irving Townsend

Bye Ratski.

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Ok then, elswhere -

It was a non-descript running week. I never really had a chance for an uninterrupted run due to some work travel obligations. I had to be in Poughkeepsie for a few days for work but it was very cool because my husband’s bro and his wife live down there so I had a much better place to hang out at then a hotel. I also got to do some running/walking at Marist College.

It was running/walking because that campus is pretty hilly, very hilly. Thus far I have been a total flatlander and I know I’m gonna have to run up a hill or two one of these days but this was a little more than I was willing (able) to commit to all at once It was very beautiful - right on the Hudson River - they still have some colorful leaves on the trees which was nice as we no longer have any up my way. The wind was quite strong but kind of exhilerating.

Now I am home and the forecast reads snow! We had a little on Friday but it did not stick, and probably won’t for a couple more weeks. I got some silk gloves from an army/navy surplus place and they are great because, at least for now, they keep my hands warm but not sweaty. As it gets colder I think they’ll be a great wicking underliner under my fleece gloves. I’m considering some STABILicers for my sneaks. Does anyone have experience with these? This will be my first winter running outdoors and I don’t want “lack of appropriate clothing” to be any kind of deterent because I know full well how brutal and snow-laden our winters are around here.

On that note - my official 5k training starts Monday. I am following the oft-referenced Hal Higdon and have posted my training calendar . It was difficult but I resisted the urge to make Mondays and Wednesdays “stupid weights” rather than simply “weights.” Dammit I’m gonna find the joy!!

I am really looking forward to going into a goal mode . Up until now I have been working on just running - which has been great in a way because the progress is so incredibly measurable. In August I ran for 30 seconds at a time - now I can run a mile and a half to 2 miles at a time. I don’t minimize that, but now I will be running towards a culmination of my efforts - my first 5k! I enjoy running just to be running, just to be able to run, and to be able to continue to run when my old body (and mind) would have said “you must stop!” But it’s neat to think about running towards something concrete - the work all culminating to one specific event. Though I’m sure that most others in the RBF have experienced this time and again, I am looking forward to the beginning of a great adventure!