a victim?

"Is this going to be a gift...or a burden, in your life?" -Sean Stephenson's mom.

Back up a couple weeks.

"You may be a victim of software counterfeiting." That was the message I woke up to posted on my computer screen. Humph-a victim huh? Well, I think I'm just a victim of Microsoft!

Frustration set in quickly. After spending two hours trying to resolve the problem I ripped open a box of running shoes I had packaged up and was preparing to return. I slapped them on my feet, put on my new Garmin 305, impatiently waited in the yard for it to find satellites and off I went. Schedule-wise, I was out of time to run, but I was frustrated and nothing fixes it like a running effort.

I was going to return the shoes, but in frustration I decided I was going running in them.

Wearing those shoes around the house the day before did nothing for me and I had been a bit disappointed. All that changed when I charged down the street in them proclaiming I would not be a "victim".

Mizuno Wave Inspire 5's. It's a bit ironic that the little marketing spiel for these shoes said "You'll fall in love with this shoe the first time you slip it on your foot." I didn't fall in love them out of the box-- but out on the road. (I guess that's how it should be.)

I've been running in those shoes since, and loving them. By the way, I'm in love with the Garmin too. I know you're not surprised.

Back to the day's story--after the run I was off to take my son to get his wisdom teeth out. On the way home, the van breaks down. (Second time in a week.) It is nearly ninety degrees and my son just had 4 teeth pulled and the van breaks down almost an hour from home.

In short, I was able to get the van into the shade while waiting. (A miracle in itself.) My mother was able to come pick up my son, (yea for moms) and take him home while I waited for the tow. The van went one way and and I rode the Max train home the other way.

It could have been a much bigger disaster really. For one, I had packed a cooler with ice packs to put on his face because the drive home from the dentist is a lengthy one. So-- he did have ice, even though we were majorly delayed. So we survived.

As far as running goes- I'm happy! In the last post I mentioned making a decision about the Portland Marathon. I was making the decision based on how my long run went that weekend. It didn't go well. Around mile eleven I had lateral knee pain in the same spot where it cropped up in the PCT 50. I cut the run short and walked home and decided that if I couldn't train for the marathon with the miles I wanted to put in, I wasn't doing it.

So the focus in my training has moved on towards some shorter races. I'm doing speed-work, tempo runs, strength work and lots (for me) biking. I'm mixing it up real well and feeling strong. The knee is doing well and I am happy with how training is progressing. Possibly, I will get a marathon in a little later before the year is out. In fact, Saturday I had an awesome longish run. Blessing!

To sum up the last couple weeks--Lot's of stuff not going "right" but I'm looking it as opportunity. "Anything is possible if you get off your 'BUT' and STAND." says Sean Stephenson. I haven't read his book yet but I intend to.

Thanks for stopping by--