Speed work

Have I ever mentioned that I have multiple jobs?

Maybe once or twice ... ?

Well, although two of them are very part-time, living this way has been putting major logistical strains on my time for blogging and working out these days, but I am doing my best to fit it all in. And hopefully the multiple-job situation will end soon.

Last night I got back on the pavement for the first time since Wednesday and it felt awesome. The long gap had a lot to do with my painful left ankle (plus work and a general lack of energy) and a desire to rest it up for good. I think five days off from running was enough.

The run was fast and powerful and sustained -- unlike any I have ever had, even in a race. Although I left the house feeling tired and heavy from a long day sitting in front of a computer, as soon as I started running I got the urge to go fast. I was so excited to be back out there and my body was being so cooperative that I couldn't resist the urge to do it, even though it meant straying from my usual mantra -- take a few minutes to warm up to a 9-minute mile pace and sustain it for as long as possible, with the goal to build stamina.

So I tossed stamina out the window and focused on speed. I sprinted down Lake Avenue, hit the valley and continued up the sloping hill. No ankle pain!

When I looped back down Caroline Street and hit 2.5 miles, I forced myself to slow down a little and not overdo it, for my ankle's sake. But when I returned to Broadway I didn't want to go home, so I sprinted back and forth a couple times in front of an elderly couple watching me curiously from their bench near City Hall.  Total = 3.7 miles, 38 minutes,  including some walking in between sprints.

Tonight was pretty good too, although I traveled less and dealt with some pain in the other ankle and calf -- although this feels like just a sore muscle that will ease up in a couple days. 

Speaking of speed, if my life was made into a movie, the year 2010 up to this point would only take up about 3 minutes of it ...  (How is it almost August, already?! I'm just getting around to changing the floor mats in my car from the winter ones to the regular ones!) ... And the 2010 part of the movie would be a montage, of course, which would have to include a shot of me zipping down Broadway at dusk on this sweet ass bike:

Popular belief and my general ignorance about cars may lead you to believe that I am not a motorized vehicle buff, but this hot orange Stella scooter just turns me on. I almost stole it off Lake Avenue this morning. It goes 65 mph. What can I say?