Preference: Horizontal

I should start at the beginning for today. Or maybe the end of yesterday. I got in bed and did my usual post-run routine: I did my knee, thigh, calf and foot massage and then proceeded to ice my knees. This morning, before my alarm pissed me off and before I actually tried to get out of bed, I could tell the general act of rising was going to make me unhappy.

My partner and I bouldered on Tuesday. We got to the gym a bit too late, and nearly walked out when we saw just how packed the gym was. We bouldered a miserable 20 problems (I had been set to do 40, but we failed at keeping to easy problems and ended up playing on things that were beyond our ability). We had fun. I lost some skin, which sucks because it hasn't grown over yet and we're climbing again tonight, but, oh well.

Wednesday I got a late start to the day and took advantage of the overcast conditions by riding from home to the office, and it was a generally pleasant ride. Far fewer people on the trails and generally good temperature. Of course it was absurdly humid, so even though the degrees were alright, I was soaked. I was embarrassed at my appearance and literally snuck into the locker room to shower. It took me an hour from the time I left home to the time I was showered and dressed, so it definitely worked out. It takes me an hour to metro, door to door, so I was pleased with the timing.

In retrospect, riding to work wasn't really the best idea I've had...while 10 miles isn't a lot, my legs are still twitching from not really giving them a rest in the last 5 days, so pushing my run yesterday was excessive. I ran a reasonable run though, and although I was slightly slower than I wanted to be (7.15 miles in 73.5 minutes). I ran down the GW Parkway and then detoured onto the 4 Mile Run, and oh my, was that a poor idea. I distinctly remember the smell of rotting when we rode down the street next to the treatment plant on Sunday, but somehow it didn't occur to me that I'd be running next to that on the 4 Mile Run. The 2.5 miles I covered along that trail gave me the general feeling of running with a mouth full of poop - the kind where you've stuffed your mouth too full and now you can't swallow it. Gross. I finished my run with a good sprint and the rain started to come down immediately as I finished. Lucky me on that one.

Also, the sheer number of bugs I've inhaled through my nose and drowned in my eyes and mouth over the last few weeks is ridiculous. I spend at least half my runs blowing bugs out of my nose, spitting up gnats and picking flies out of my eyeballs. Thank goodness for my glasses.

I'm looking forward to not doing any workout stuff tomorrow, and less looking forward to climbing tonight since both my knees, quads, hams and hip flexors are complaining that I've been beating them up too much. I'll be in MA this weekend for a graduation party, and hopefully will be able to squeeze in my 4 miles on Saturday even though I'm staying with a friend and her family. Is that awkward?

I've committed to running a loop from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial on the mall. I'm a bit competitive and don't like running with people who I know are faster than I am because I'm a sore loser...but...I feel inclined to do this with my friend who basically told me to get over it. It's an opportunity to run with someone who is faster and will push me, so there is that. Plus, I've wanted to run on the mall for a while and look forward to having someone to do that with. Probably next weekend or late one evening next week.

Yay for not working on Monday! Yay compressed workweek! WHEEE!