Run to Work Day

Monday - I ran to work. My car battery died Sunday afternoon before I was to go for a run. After taking my wife's car out to go run at Lake Conestee, it was too late to take the battery to get checked - priorities you know!
 I only live 4-5 miles from work, depending on the route, so it was very manageable. What made it a little more interesting was the fact that I had to carry my laptop and my clothes/shoes for work. My camelbak was full!
I set off at 6am and headed up the road (and a blind hill with very little shoulder) with my headlamp, flashlight and blinking light on my bag. Throw in a bright yellow shirt - and I felt everyone could see me. The pack didn't feel too bad, a bit heavy, but not uncomfortable. I sure felt like I was plodding, but then again, my legs have felt like that since I was sick, 2+ weeks ago now. I'm expecting them to rebound just in time for the 12 hour Race for Awesomeness!
So, headed past Mauldin High School, still not alot of traffic out and eventually turn from Miller Rd into Forrester Woods to bypass part of Hamby that is on the narrow side and has lots of turns. I used to ride my bike thru here on the way home from work a few years ago. I should have consulted a map, because I got turned around and went .75mi thru the subdivision before coming back out on Miller 300 yards from where I had entered.
Oh well, let's see how bad Hamby really is....turned out - it wasn't so bad. It was much lighter out now (6:30ish), so that helped.
Not too eventful from there on...at least one co-worker passed me along Forrester (hello!).
 51 minutes for what turned out to be ~5.15 miles. Not too shabby; I'll even consider doing this when I don't 'have' to!

Work) Travel and Exercise (Mexico, Philly & Spokane)

Since I am traveling for work quite a bit over the next 3-4 weeks, I thought I'd ramble about exercising while I am gone, out of my routine. The first part of planning is making sure I am in a hotel that, at a minimum, can keep me occupied with a treadmill and/or stationary bike. Ones near trails or parks are even better. A last resort is having a road outside that is "safe" to run by. Sadly - sometimes you have No choice. My 1st trip - to Juarez Mexico - I will be in a hotel. Just being in Mexico makes it much more difficult to get outside and do anything, no car, poorly maintained roads, dirt/dust and a few crazy drivers. So I am relegated to stay indoors. Instead of my daily runs outside - I will hit the treadmill a few days. This of course has to be arranged so I can still "be a team player" and do dinner with the hosts and my other travel companions. (I don't always do this, but try to be social every so often). I'll alternate days with the stationary bike. Both of these means either early mornings or late evenings (after my food settles). Anyway.

My 2nd trip this month is to just outside Philadelphia. I've been there enough to know what websites to look at for upcoming races, etc in the area. I've also found a great State Park (Tyler State Park) with excellent trails and even a covered bridge. It is frequented by area cross country teams too - so there is plenty to keep you company. Also - plenty of deer! Doubt I'll make it up there this trip as I am only there 2 nights, the first of which is when I arrive).

The last of my planned work trips is to Spokane, WA. The Centennial Trail runs right behind the hotel I stay at. Enough to satisfy any distance run. Good for running in the snow or sun. When the snow is gone - there are bikes to borrow to ride also. Didn't quite make it to Idaho (2 miles short), but considering I hadn't been on a bike in quite a while and I still had to go back, I'd save it for another trip. I'd suggest Riverside State Park to go a little further off track. I know there are Plenty of other trails in WA, ID and MT, but I've only made 3 trips out there so far. Sadly - will miss the annual Bloomsday Run in May. Look it up - reminds me of the Cooper River Bridge Run, but More popular. 12k distance I think, so if I do it - I can have a new PR. Maybe in 2009!

Well - I'll make the best of it, and will have most of the weekends upcoming back here for my long slow runs. One long run in Spokane, but I at least know the trail there.
Until I get back...