Is it Friday yet? I am actually counting the hours this week.  I’ve been a little cranky this week, I think stress has gotten to me, I noticed yesterday that even my jaw aches.  Ugh.

Anywho, moving on!   Yesterday, NikeC and I got back to the gym.   I wasn’t feeling like running much, so we just walked a slow mile on the treadmills to warmup before heading to the circuit room.   It’s only been 2 weeks since I was last there but I felt so weak!   I felt like I was starting from scratch again.  We managed to make it all the way around the room this time around.  4 people came in and used random machines and then left.  One lady glared at us while I was using one of the leg machines.  Hey, we were going in numerical order!    My gym is pretty low-key and I have never seen anyone monitor the circuit room even though there is a sign on the wall.   I also had the privilege of hearing my first gym grunter.   I have seen all the stereotype memes, gifs, and commercials but didn’t think they actually existed.  The free weights section of the gym has always seemed more like a coffee date than anything else, more talk than working out.  This very buff guy comes into the circuit room and goes to one of the arm machines (I really have to figure out what they are called) and cranks the weight up.  He then proceeds to do his reps, grunting and talking to himself.  And he was grunting loudly.    But who am I to talk?  I can’t even use doors properly.  As I was leaving the gym, the door only opened about 45 degrees.  I wasn’t paying enough attention and slammed into it, loudly.  Just call me grace.

Ever since my rough race a few weeks ago, I have been running a little differently.  I’ve been starting out with no real goal in mind other than just to run.  I have also been taking my time with my first mile, i.e my warmup.  I have mentioned before that warming up is a weakness of mine.   That just takes too much time for this Slacker, cue the eye rolling and head shaking.  I also hated seeing that warmup bring down my overall pace.   Ego much?   Most of my last few runs, I have met up with my mother more often than usual.  This usually meant that my first mile is slower while we walk and chat.   A month ago, seeing that first mile in the high 12 to high 13 range would have irritated me to no end.    The last couple of weeks I noticed something- my pace is consistently back under 10:00 a mile after that first slower mile.  This was true even today when it was 93º at the beginning of my run and 91º when done; I also took a few walk breaks in the shady section.     Well, don’t I feel silly stupid.  Granted it’s only been a few weeks but I think it’s safe to say that I have learned my lesson.   The Slacker can learn. 

We have had a brief cool off, but the temps are going back to triple digits this weekend.   My long run will probably not be that speedy, despite everything previously mentioned.  🙂     But that’s ok, too.

What does your weekend look like?  Anyone racing?

Anyone else shortcut their warmup?  Or is it just me?