Adventures ahead

I’ll be writing a bit less frequently over the next few weeks (try to restrain your applause), as I’m about to embark upon a series of adventures that will render me somewhat internet-deprived and keep me busy doing real-life things with a lot of friends whom I haven’t seen in a while. I expect to keep running along the way, as the Victoria BC (that’s in Canada, for the benefit of my vast audience of global followers) half marathon is only four weeks away. I figure throwing in a bit of heat, high altitude, thunderstorms, and possible combinations of two or more of the above should make for some interesting final training and pre-race taper experiences. It should make running 13.1 miles on a brisk mid-October morning on a flat, sea-level course seem like a piece of cake, yes?

We shall see. I ran 7.5 miles this morning. It was warm for this part of the world (mid-70s at 10:00 AM!). I focused on maintaining a reasonably steady, sustainable (SLOW) pace — check! — drinking all the water I’d brought with me — check! — and not letting my heart rate spike too high in the heat — check! If nothing else, I am learning self-discipline… while ever-so-gradually becoming not-quite-so-slow.

I’m being deliberately vague about exactly when and where I’m coming and going. While I’m in and out and about, my house and my three cats will be in the good hands and under the watchful eye of friends, neighbors, and my trusty home security company… so don’t be getting any ideas.

I’ll write when I can about interesting things I might see and do, and maybe even post a few photos.

It’s nice to have adventures to look forward to, but it’s really weird to be doing them without Kurt. We had planned on having some of these upcoming adventures together, and I’m now keeping my promise to him that I would go, with or without him.

One step at a time.