Change of plans

So much for taking advantage of an early start to the weekend and sneaking in a late-afternoon run.

The weather goddesses were not on my side as I pulled in the driveway today around 4 pm -- with sun shining overhead -- and dashed into the house to get hydrated and changed for what I thought would be a nice easy meander through Spa State Park. During the 10 minutes I'm in the house (we're talking Mareesa Time here, so make that 20 minutes) the sky turns overcast, thunder starts to rumble, the wind is whipping leaves around on my street and it looks like a storm is going to break any moment.



I would actually welcome the chance to run in a light, warm rain today, but thunder, gusts and the threat of lightning compel me to change out of my running shorts about as fast as I put them on.    

Plan B = Pull on the yoga shorts, grab the mat and head over to Woodlawn Avenue where One Yoga Saratoga just happened to be kicking off their grand opening weekend with a free 5:30 Vinyasa class.

The studio makes its debut as Hot Yoga Saratoga's more temperate little sister; both are owned by Cindy Lunsford, who, in opening Hot Yoga a few years ago, introduced Saratoga to its first taste of heated hatha. The studios feature a bevy of expert instructors who are delightful in their vastly distinct styles, though all will make you feel welcome -- whether you've never heard of the word "Bikram" or you're well-acquainted with Padangustasana and the other 25 postures.

I got a good stretch from the Vinyasa, especially my calves and lower back, which have been tight from Monday's race and, later, from sitting at my desk for days on end. The studio was heated to about 85 degrees, which I wasn't quite prepared for because maybe I hadn't read the fine print on Facebook. Anyway, it was a mildly sweaty 60 minutes, though far from the exhaustive, drenching, 105-degree heat of the Hot Yoga studio, and for that difference I was thankful.

I grabbed some crackers and cheese and fruit from the spread that was set out to celebrate the opening and headed out to hunt down some pizza and wine, my Friday evening splurge of choice.

Tonight the plan was to hopefully continue functioning after 9 pm, which has been a challenge this week. Though it was only four days and went by in a flash of meetings, emails and heat waves, post-race weeks always surprise me in how fatigued they leave me.

After taking a day of rest and recovery after the Firecracker 4, I headed out Wednesday for a 3.74 mile jaunt around the northeast side of Saratoga. I warmed up slowly and topped out at a steady, 9:30 pace for a couple miles. I dipped down Lake Avenue, past High Rock park and then, for a challenging finale, charged the long, sloping hill up East Avenue to cross Route 50 -- only forced to stop once because I did not want to get run over. If the MapMyRun app was correct, it was only about three tenths of a mile from the base to where I stopped at Catherine Street, but because of the gradual incline and the humidity in the air, it felt like much more.

Now it is raining steadily and I am sipping my Malbec, nice and chill. Because I'm seemingly able to float overly positive thoughts around in my brain lately, I plan on getting up early tomorrow morning (read: Saturday) and going for a long run in the park before I get in the car and trek to New York. Maybe I'll even throw in a hill on the run. If it gets too painful, I can always change course mid-way through, right?