Well, I got the bike, and that’s going to be the last (!) purchase/expenditure I’m making.  Business has gotten pretty bad, and our financial situation is, well, a bit pressured.  We’ve canceled our trip to Vermont this weekend, and I’ve decided to not spend the money on a flight/hotel in Minneapolis.

This year, I’m training for a pretend marathon.  But that’s cool.

Love to all. Even you, the tourist who took a very, very, very long time to set up his picture of the Empire State Building.

(Which sounds, I realize, like a post about stomach issues.  It’s not.)

Love to all.  Even you, the passenger with 17 grandkids who yelled at other people’s kids.

I just ran the 2008 Manhattan half Marathon with Eric, our friend Jack, and one of Eric’s girlfriend’s friends.  It was cold and beautiful outside, and by the end of the race those of wearing hats had a thin layer of frost over our the top of our heads, where the sweat had frozen.

I did okay.  I averaged 8:33/mile, which is not my best.  But I haven’t been running all that consistently, so I should take what I can get.

Love to all.  Even you, the runner-scientist who got mad at people for saying nice things.

10.25 miles, 8:38/mile. I did the “big hill” loop twice.  Check the elevation graph below (it’s the gray line) to see what I’m talking about.  I’m really happy with this run.  Not nearly my best, but I’m confident I’m back on track. Click to biggify.Love to all. Even you, the TWO FUCKERS in a ROW who were over the white line on the shoulder and going double the speed limit.

On the upside to an otherwise kind of sucky day, we’re putting together a seriously awesome party space for tomorrow.

I deferred my 2007 marathon entry to 2008. Between my latest battle with my lungs, work pressures, etc., I don’t want to have to try and CRAM training for the next month. I want running to be something I like to do… not that I have to do. You know?

I have a LOT of cleaning to do, and I better get on it. Many relatives… and many 8-year-olds… are coming over tomorrow.

Love to all. Even you, the overinvolved dad who suddenly become underinvolved at precisely the wrong time.

Love to all. Even you, the chuckling redhead whose jokes I didn’t mean to ignore.

Previous best half-marathon: Bronx Half-Marathon, July 2006: 1:43:25

New best half-marathon: NYC NIke Half-Marathon, August 5, 2007: 1:43:11

14 seconds better, which is actually kind of amazing, considering I haven’t run a race since Atlanta in March.

Thank goodness I took off towards the end:

Love to all. Even you, the dude with the angry pit bull.

I just wanted to post at 3:42 in the morning, since I’m up for the race.

Love to all.

Tomorrow is my FIRST NYRR race race of 2007. I did run the Atlanta Marathon in March, but other than that, no races of any kind. For reference: the two years prior, I ran at least 10 races per year. This year, though, work, family, and life have all kept me too busy to race. Thus, the Nike Half-Marathon tomorrow and the ING New York City Marathon in November are my only two scheduled races of the year.

My plan for 2008 is to run at least 9 NYRR qualifiers, along with the Chicago Marathon. That way, I do at least 1 Marathon per year, plus I’ll automatically qualify for the New York Marathon in 2009, when I’m FORTY FUCKING YEARS OLD.

If I was a chick, I’d just be CLOSING IN on hotness. But I don’t feel I’m getting better (physically) with age. Alas. One day at a time, though.

I’m a little nervous about getting to the corral on time. I have to take the 4:50am train to get there by 6:15… it’s gonna be a little tight. Wish me luck.

On a side note, I fell in love with a 1-year-old pound dog named Jonesy today. Thing is, I’m not sure he’ good for a family like mine. He’s a beautiful, outgoing, jet black mix (pit, lab, others), and he’s just my kind. I’m following up tomorrow to get some more information. Hm. Mutt or Saluki. Strange choice.

Love to all. Even you, the ride attendant at Rye Playland who was tossing Skittles at the ladies.