I'm not ready to say I fear The Monkey but I am ready to say I respect it. My usual training run (a 1 mile loop) compares not to the wild elevation swings of Monkey. Nor does an out and back I tried at Iroquois Park yesterday an (a now obviously lame) attempt to mimic the monkey. The monkey (middle chart) will not be imitated.

"I once got busy in an Iroquois bathroom" -Humpty paraphrased (Digital Underground)

I went for a run today at 2:00 PM (Iroquois Park). Before beginning, I stopped at the Amphitheater bathroom. I found fat forty-somethings fornicating in the filth on the floor (that is alliteration, my friends). A quick "Sorry!" was released along with my surprised look before I shut the door and began belly laughing. They laughed from the other side too before boarding their awaiting TARC a short time later. I saw too much flesh and the images were still burned into my retinas as I blinked on the drive home, post-run.

Don't you just love when people are in love away from their friends, families, or partners. What do you think, was this planned adultery or just love at first site whilst busing?

Top Gun

I broke my rule of nothing below 8:00 for the month of August, during my last mile.

"He proceeded below the hard-deck, we were below for just a few seconds. I had the shot. There was no danger, so I took it."

"You took it, and broke a major rule of engagement."

Notes from training log after this evening's run:
Water after miles 3 & 6. overall this was faster than I wanted to go at this point in The Returning but legs felt okay other than soreness and I still took it easy on the downhills to avoid pounding/jarring of bones & joints. This was also in my "racing shoes" which are lighter b/c my training shoes are at work.

8:28
8:14
8:10
8:22
8:12
8:02
8:06
7:40

Low Carb Cancellation

"Smart Exercise" - Indeed! Based on a friend's recommendation, I bought this book and read it a year or two ago. I just re-read the mini-chapter on ketosis and carbohydrate loading to conclude a low carb diet is no bueno.

Plus I'm running again and had decided to resume carbs once running was again possible. My fourth try after 6 weeks off brought with it success. I was able to run 6 miles without stopping during lunch while the temperature climbed into the upper 80's.

As an after-thought, based on the information in this book I will likely never try the low-carb madness again -- though I did make it through induction (< 20 carbs/day) so I have that going for me.