Long run!
20 miles today, yes, I walked most of the last 5 miles again. I really need to bring more than ONE banana with me on long runs. So based on that I have to decide if I will run Rome or not. It’s in a month, so there’s no long run to take in between. Two bad long runs in a row, but I wasn’t properly equipped for either. And while I didn’t like the disorganization of Rome last year, it will be easier now that I know what to expect. Also, I know I can do better than 4:17. I will figure it out by the end of the week. I also am unsure I want to take on the expense of a hotel room and such for the weekend.
So for dinner I made Tofu parmigiana over linguine. I’m trying to think of different things to make, because I get into these modes where I just make the same thing over and over and over and over again, and never put any thought into what I’m having for food. I can eat the same thing every day, and not get sick or bothered by that for weeks. I know because I’ve done it. It was nice to break up the monotony a little bit.
Today, I was pretty blank while running, there is a good reason for that. There was thunderstorms in the forecast. It was for later in the day, but on a long run, it’s important to pay attention to how weather is changing around you. I got very lucky. Now mind you, I planned everything to be done (even if what happened, and I bonked the last few miles, happened) long before the forecasted T-storms. But still, you never know, forecasts are only the very best prediction based on what we know. We don’t know everything and we get things wrong, this includes meteorologists. Basically, if there are thunderstorms in the forecast, stay away from them. This is not the first time I stupidly ran out with lightning in the forecast. This time worked out better, last time I damned near did get hit. I was racing the last half mile to try and avoid the bolts hitting within a few hundred yards of me. With weather, that’s not that big a distance.
When I started out, the sky to the South of me was dark and nasty, but everything to the North was rather nice. I was heading to Barletta, so North it was. I figured I’d hit the city and head down the Lungomare, then back into Trani. About two miles out from the Barletta city center, the dark clouds rolled in there. As I hit the Lungomare the wind whipped up, in my face. It still wasn’t raining as I turned to head home, and now the wind was a tailwind, which wasn’t as pleasant as you would think, a strong tailwind can be bothersome when you’re trying to pace yourself slower. But at least the sand from the beach wasn’t scrubbing my eyeballs anymore.
As I got back to the Barletta city limits proper, it started raining lightly. It stayed with me for about 20 minutes. The whole time I was keeping my eyes open for flashes and listening for the sounds of distant thunder. Always keeping in mind where the tall trees were on the route and other buildings and things I could shelter under if needed. I was lucky that it was never required. There is not much between Barletta and Trani. It’s about 7 miles between the two cities, and about 2 miles outside of Barletta there is nothing but farmland, no trees, save some olive groves, until you get to the SS16 bis overpass. Two miles out in the open, no real protection at all. As I said, I was lucky.
Other problems today, haha, since I seem to be in that mood. I clench my jaw a lot when I run. I need to be more cognizant of that and relax more. I am in a fair amount of pain right now. In that respect, I’m glad I live by myself and have no one to speak to tonight. Because I don’t even want to sing along to the music right now. I must have been clenching my jaw the whole way, except when I was eating. I could feel the soreness at mile 16 when I was having the second half of the banana.
Alright, so the rundown of the new stuff. Replaced the stolen laptop, with an updated version of the same ASUS laptop. Ended up with a Motorola Z Force phone from Verizon. As much as I wanted unbranded, it was cheaper and easier, and it has the same guts as the S7, only a better camera, and a less bulky Android version, because Motorola doesn’t bog down their phones with all the junk Samsung does. I got the same model backpack as I had before, but the updated version didn’t come in the same colors, so I got the electric blue one they have, it’s flashier sure, but that’s what I want, so it’s harder to lose sight of. The new wireless mouse is nice too. Oh, and no more leather wallet. Yes I’m still drinking milk, eating eggs, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream, but I am trying to cut out as many animal products as possible.
As shitty as it was being robbed, in the end, I am better off. I have all my proper Italian documents now, my US passport needed to be renewed anyway, all I have to do is renew my driver’s license in the US this Summer, and get a motorcycle endorsement while I’m at it. As I said when it happened, yes, destroy the system, disobey, do all that stuff, but don’t steal from the people who are down in the trenches with you, that’s a surefire formula for failure.
Well, I’m glad I did better today than I did yesterday. I need to get myself to bed. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! And just a friendly reminder:
Have fun, keep running, and remember; if Gil Can Run, then so can you!
Posted in Uncategorized by Gil with no comments yet.
Leave a Reply