Its been a fairly decent running week so far, and I should enjoy it while I can because I head into my difficult running time this weekend …. I squeezed in my 6 miler yesterday before I traveled to Berwyn, PA for an Oracle Workshop, good stuff. It left me tired though, and was the first real ‘cold’ morning i’ve been out running … kind of like a preview of the upcoming fall period of finishing the running season for Harrisburg. I had on two long sleeve shirts and was still somewhat cool, in the beginning at least. By the end I was pretty much warmed up with the blood pumping and all, it just reminds me that its a slow process of adjusting from the hot to the cold. It was only 2 weeks ago that I was complaining that it was too hot, and just last week I was running with no shirt, what a difference!

I kind of feel like my sinuses are playing games with me again with the weather change. I’ve been keeping my nose lubed up (ocean nasal spray) and drinking water like there is no end in hopes of fighting off an infection that will sideline probably one of the more difficult weeks I will have in this training. I don’t feel as bad as last time things acted up, but I can’t take any chances. Probably the worst part is that the weather will be extremely cool this weekend, and possibly rainy tomorrow for my 21+ miler (last majorly long run). Then on Sunday, the morning low is expected to be in the upper 30’s … meaning I won’t get my run in until mid-morning if i’m smart. Both days I have the possibility of making my potential cold worse …….

So this weekend starts 10 days of madness in my schedule, and where the real challenge is. I have to get out early tomorrow so I can get my son to the orthodontist and goto the downs syndrome walk in kingston … then the rest of the day should be relaxful. Then Sunday I just have a party for my mom .. then Monday, up early to run, then to a job interview (yeah!) .. then up early Tuesday and out for a 12 miler (last mid-week one until after Steamtown), and then I fly to Boston for training all week. This is where the struggle comes in. I need to get my runs in at a strange place, hopefully I can get my mileage in without issue … then I fly back on Friday late … and have to teach on Saturday, so i’m not sure yet how i’ll manage a long run next weekend. I’m thinking that if I stick my last LONG run in on Sunday morning instead of Saturday, that should work. But I guess we’ll see…

I’ve noticed that my hunger level has gone to a new high … I haven’t been necessarily dedicated to my diet in the last few days. I broke down and had a ton of ice cream last night from Hillside, I just couldn’t stop, it was so good. I also should’ve stopped myself from eating crap at the workshop yesterday, but hey, I guess I can spare the extra calories at this point. I am also a little concerned being away next week for exactly what my diet will look like, its hard to stay faithful when you’re eating in restaurants the whole time, so we’ll see.

I guess thats about it, its hard to see summer come to an end, but it might be time to pull out the fall clothes … Steamtown is getting near, it’ll be here before we know it! Again, the good thing is that I’m feeling strong and running well … I hope it can keep up for a few more weeks!