marathon monkey-wrench

My marathon-training goal for last Saturday was 21 miles, and it was a beautiful day for a run on the Avenue of the Giants. I'd done 18 miles the previous Saturday (and 15 the one before that), but on Wednesday had missed one of the two six-mile runs i do during the work-week. i wonder if that had much to do with what happened next.

A slight soreness just below my left knee-cap that began around the 10-mile mark would simply not go away, no matter how much loving energy i sent its way. i'd been slowing my pace down more and more, and when i finally stopped just past the 18-mile mark, i was surprised to learn that i was no longer able to put ANY weight on that leg. i eventually flagged down a car whose occupants used a cell-phone to call home. Good buddy from Heartwood Sky Olson was up from San Diego for a 4-day visit, and he immediately jumped in his car and came to rescue me.

i could've used a crutch the day or two following, and am still hobbling about a a bit, but am now a bit worried that at this point, even a half-marathon on the 21st may not be possible. i'll continue to ice it and try not to strain it further, but there is a lot of work around the house to do, and i have been unable to simply lie around and give it rest. Say a few prayers that me knee will heal sufficiently for Race Day, will you?

My visit with Sky was fun. It was initially planned as purely a social call, but with the loss of my co-worker sooner than expected (long story), Sky's visit turned into a sort of working interview. Mike is impressed, and if Sky wants to share the work and the house with me, he is welcome.

Sky'll make up his mind in the next day or two. Some factors in the Nay column: Miranda's relative isolation (which many would crave); and the cold, wet and gray winter which is expected to descend in another couple of months.

On the Aye side of the ledger: Sky loves animals and would love being around them; he has pruned walnut trees before, and can be said to have a green thumb; he would have his own bedroom in a really rad domicile right on the Avenue of the Giants (redwoods abound, eat your hearts out flatlanders and big-city dwellers), and furthermore would get to live and work day after day with your humble correspondent. (Let it be said, there are one or two souls who would argue that this last item belongs in the other column. Pay them no heed, they LIE i tell you!)

i SO gotta get back to work. Plus this update is costing me 10 cents a minute! See ya in a few weeks. Or a couple of days, ya never know.

ps:

EID MUBARAK

Happy end of the holy month of Ramadan

to all my Muslim friends!!