A Fine Line

There's a fine line between badass and dumbass.  That's been my lesson for the week.

First, the gym, Monday morning recovery swim - the pool was cold (well, not really, it wasn't HOT which meant that, to the rest of the gym, it was cold) at 74 degrees.  I was in there enjoying the solitude and being able to swim without feeling like I'm sweating.  Everyone who glanced in the pool and saw me going at it was thinking "dumbass". 

Then, Tuesday, back at the gym for speedwork - the track was covered in ice and I actually wanted to haul a little.  I was running late and was at the point that I needed to start running NOW in order to get the whole run in.  I was rushing to get my winter stuff off when . . . the fire alarm went off.  Wha??? So, me and the other two chics who were about to work out headed out to see what was up.  Nobody on the gym floor was reacting.  They all kept on running or doing the stair climber or lifting their weights.  They didn't even look up.  The lone employee (it was 5:30 in the morning) was running around trying to figure out what the hell the problem was.  Luckily, I had the day off so I decided to come back for my full speedfest later when the daycare opened.  Meanwhile, two ladies came from the back and announced they smelled smoke.  The gym rats kept on with their workout.  I'm thinking, what if the building were burning down?  Dumbasses.

Later, I was back, hitting my pace for 6 x 800.  The first one was hard.  The second one felt great.  The third and fourth were agony.  The fifth felt fab.  The sixth took everything I had.  Now, Joe Friel says you should stop when you have one rep left in you.  That would have been after the fifth.  But I had a 6 x 800 on the books.  So I kept going.  When I got off the dreadmill, my legs were saying "DUMBASS!"  However, after some stretching and a long nap with Noah, I felt human again - and I wasn't sore at all on Wednesday so. . . maybe I was a badass.  Too soon to tell, I suspect.

I'm getting faster.  Thursday's tempo run was right about my old 10k pace.  Not my PR, but my avg. 9:00/mile 10k.  Now, if I can just get my full run in on Sunday . . . which will it be - badass or dumbass.  Tune in next time to find out.