Thursday, as I was about a mile into the tempo portion of my planned 8 miler, I saw, hobbling toward me on the gravel rollers, an old man. (Sorry to any old men reading this...just lacking better description). He had a cane. In the middle.of.nowhere.
It seemed a little out of place, so I pulled out the ear buds and tried to hear his words over the crunching rocks.
I was kind of hoping I'd hear him say "Hellooooo!!!!" as I kept up my tempo, but that was not it. There was something about "Help," and "Could you?" I came to a full stop.
We both must have looked a bit out of place. He was at least a mile from the nearest house that direction. Turns out he was parked at the ramp and his rig wouldn't start. Could I help, or get someone? Sure. I told him I'd run home and send out my husband.
And I was off again, restarting my tempo, which (to be perfectly honest), I really wasn't feeling really on fire for up to that moment. But emergencies called and I had a new reason to run fast. He hollered "How far?"
I held up some fingers and said "Three miles", and figured he was going back to his rig to wait.
When I got home, I sent Jon out and he took care of the old guy. It turns out he made it to the first house (my dream home), where no one lives most weeks of the month. When they went to jump start his rig, it started right away- no charger needed! They guy was a little embarrassed, but I think both Jon and I were happy to have had a chance to be someone's hero.
There is a life lesson in here for me somewhere...and a running lesson too:
I am sorry that guy had an "emergency", but it's nice to be needed sometimes, and to be able to provide help.
I felt fatigued after doing a double with the last one late the night before, but when emergency came, I pulled the pace out. Tempo goal pace: 6:51 for 20 minutes (adjusted for each 5 minutes afterwards) 7:03, 6:50, 6:43, 6:53.
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More running stuff:
- My long run was on the short side today- about 14 miles. bahhhhhhhhhhhh. I just wasn't feeling it. Tired legs. Maybe that's a good sign that training is going well. Still trying to keep my E paces in the 8:32 range (for the 50 VDOT number).
- Had a great 8x400 workout this week. I have only started doing TRUE intervals since getting the GPS watch and resuming speed work after a long recovery from Boston. My I pace for 400M is 1:33...I set the recover time to 1 minute, but am not sure what is the true recovery period for intervals...longer than 1:33 for rest would make it more like a repetition (R), which stresses form over cardio...Or that's what I get from my reading. If you regularly do intervals, how do you determine your recoveries??
- I am getting geared for the next race on my schedule- the Butte to Butte 10K. This is Eugene's largest race (participants wise- I think it's bigger than the Eugene Marathon/half combined). My plan is to race hard, but I am still going to put in plenty of miles up to the race. Also, I am looking for some AMERICANA to wear...rub-on tattoos? Anyone know where to find rub-on tattoo flags?
- Did you race this weekend? How did it go??!!
Random life stuff:
- Matthew has healed nicely since stepping on a decking screw. We are SO blessed to live a mile from a very competent ER Dr. - we have a good rapport with him. He has stitched Matthew up once before on his granite counter top...
- I haven't changed a poopy diaper in over a WEEK!!! That's right!! Although it was a bugger toting the injured middle boy around everywhere while he wasn't walking, being stuck at home was actually a good thing for some of us. There have been a few accidents...but my youngest boy (Levi) will be 2 on Sunday and I am d.o.n.e. with diapers!
Faith stuff:
- My kids and I have been enjoying mornings with Youtube praise music. Hillsong kids has some great kids worship songs...My kids are only 6,4 & 2, so maybe your teens won't like them, but mine love dancing/singing to the upbeat praise music. I have even considered finding a kids CD by Hillsong to buy so I can put it into my running music.
- Also, we have been attending a group couples discussion about the marriage video series "Love and Respect". One nugget I got from a recent session was "If you want to motivate someone, find out what their deepest need is and meet it." I LOVE that.
Have a great weekend!