Don't Fail Me Now!

I slept through all my alarms, got to work late, and haven't had any coffee all day. Yesterday wasn't a great day. I got everything I had to do done; finished none of the things I wanted and/or needed to do for me.
I thought about skipping my workout for a pack of cookies and a nap. Didn't. Didn't run, did walk... 5 miles! Pretty good pace.

The marathon training is getting to me. I always feel a kick when I finish a workout, but now the aches are showing up earlier and hanging around longer. Less than 3 weeks away. I can do this!

Young Justice Falls short of the Mark

After the first episode of Young Justice, Independence Day, Part 1 I was certain it was a cartoon suitable for the 5-8 crowd, but targeted at the 10-12 year olds. The world really does need campy, action adventures with not too much violence. It wasn't great, but it was something I'd watch with all the nephews and everyone would enjoy it. But after episode 9, Bereft, I'm confused (not an uncommon occurrence.) It's too violent, too dark, too sexually charged. It's on at 7 PM!

WTH Cartoon Network! I don't want a 6 year old watching this. I see the show is rated PG and it even has a V for violence. SEVEN O'CLOCK! That's kiddy time. When the sun is down and the TV is on there should be show that the little ones and the adults in the room can enjoy, especially if that show is a gateway drug to comic addiction.

This show is not it. Its uneven storytelling and lack of a defined audience, make it hit-or-miss at best. At worst, it's yawn inducing drivel. This is no Teen Titans. It's no Batman: The Animated Series.

I could perhaps be persuaded that the show has merit on the Friday night line-up, if... Nope, no I can't. The show is trying, but it's trying to be an adult show while still appealing to that preteen market. And if my rabid band of radical critics (ages 6, 10, 10, and 12) say it's falling short of the mark, then trust me it is. Ben 10 Ultimate Alien gets much higher marks and nothing tops Star Wars The Clone Wars.

I Did That

Twenty Miles! I completed a 20 miler! And that's basically the bright spot in the gloom.

My left foot may never forgive me. My hamstring is punishing me. My time is making me rethink the whole doing-a-marathon thing. I'm not fast. Boston isn't even a vague dream. I'd be ecstatic with a 5-1/2 hour finish and realistically, I was planning on something closer to 6. Twenty miles today nearly took that 6 (if you count in the the 20 minute break I took to massage my achy foot and stretch my knotted hamstring.)

Okay, so it wasn't all bad. In fact, this was the first long run I've taken where I didn't have an asthma attack, didn't feel my heart running away with me, and didn't have a side cramp. The first 7 miles were great; after that my left foot started protesting like the unions in Wisconsin. I stopped 2 times between mile 7-13 to adjust my toe socks on the silly left foot. I will definitely not be wearing them for the race. Those stops are included in my final time. But the bathroom break/ stretch session is not. The bathroom is off the course a quarter of a mile; I hadn't planned on stopping there, but my leg (and bladder) needed the break. A short hamstring stretch, foot massage and leg drain helped more than I would have believed.

I took plenty of nutrition, a mix of salted nuts, gels, banana, and an English muffin with molasses. I did run out of water at mile 19, but that's only because it took me 30 minutes longer than planned. The weather was ideal and I can only hope for such next month. I love my New Balance wind breaker, with it's generous pockets and my new running capris are really comfortable.

The pain in my left foot and hamstring, coupled with my poor time really has me worried if I can even do this. I am not, by nature, a positive thinker. I don't know what I will do. I'm certain I can go the distance, just not so confident if I can do it in the alloted time.

I will stop being a jackass, though why we use that term boggles me, because this group love to watch me run...