Don't Know Why They're Kicking It Onsides Here...They Should Probably Just Kick It Down The Field

AM: 1:55 :: 20+M (last mile 5:22)

Its hard to know what to make of this run. I felt completely blah the whole way. In a weird way it is a sign of progress. In the past I would have been getting psyched up to do this workout all week and come into it fresh. Today I just woke up and decided I should do something hard. My initial idea was to run up to Lake Johanna, run the free MDRA 4M race, and then run back. I also considered running up to the UofM and hopping in the 5k and mile at the USATF MN Indoor Champs. But considering Wednesday night, I thought it best to avoid the track today.

So I waited for things to warm up and for the ice to melt as much as possible. I headed out the door feeling pretty tight and unmotivated, but I still managed 5:45 for the first mile and 11:35 through two. I wasn't really pushing, but it wasn't effortless either. I just felt tight and uncomfortable. I used the fact that the wind was in my face on the way out as a motivator since I would have it at my back along the Greenway. I hit Lake Harriet (a little less than 10M) in just under 57 min and the half-marathon point on the Greenway in 1:15. Running along Lake Harriet I got to see what it will be like for the next six months: packed. I try to be polite running around people, but some just have no sense that they are weaving all over the path. And watch what Fido is doing! I almost got clotheslined by leashes a couple of times. It still beats running on the road I guess. I got pretty comfortable the long, straight stretch along the Greenway. I even had my own spectators: a couple of women with a case of Icehouse singing "Good day, sunshine". I turned down their offer to stop and have a beer.

I finished up well enough running into the wind. Again, I didn't feel great, but it wasn't like I was falling apart. I think I've been spoiled in workouts so far this year; everything has felt so easy. But days like today are good too. Toughens the mind.

Now onto my big success: a total shellacking of the Eagles on Madden. 162-20. Now it isn't exactly fair because I'm using the Falcons with Michael Vick, the most insane video football player of all time. I don't even flinch at 4th and 10. I just run the quarterback sweep out of the shotgun and it usually goes for a touchdown. I'm starting to try to evolve him into a pocket passer, but it is so tempting to run boot legs and fire a pass over the linebackers coming up to defend the run. I hesitant to start a full season because once I start I usually spend a whole weekend playing it through to the Super Bowl. Katie doesn't seem to like that. Go figure. So I'm just content to play a game here and there trying to rack up the biggest stats. It is so fun kicking onsides everytime. I do think in the next version of the game they have to have an option to smack John Madden in the chops. Boom! On second thought, I think I need to take a break from the game.

LINK
John Hodgeman on HGH
The Wheel can be tricky