On the road again! Out today for a 4 miler. Light rain increased to a moderate shower by the second half. I guess it is a break through for me when, at the end of the run, I was enjoying the last few steps in a rain that felt kind and cooling. Lollipop for the day -- a friend whom I hadn't seen for months looked at me and said, "You look thinner." Now, if she had said, "You look taller", that would have been a chocolate covered lollipop. She is a tall person, so I suppose she would have noticed if I had risen at all.

I'm on an uphill slog getting my energy back and feet under me the last week. I managed a 3 mile walk, then a 3 mile run-walk yesterday, with hopes of getting moving more comfortably today. Some kind of bug or general malaise is dogging me. Oh, I also did a little weight training last week using small free weights we have hauled around with us for some years. All in all I feel physically well until I make much of an effort. Perhaps today will see an uptick.

I just made it through a few days of illness, so missed a number of days of training. The upside was I rested a lot, and so had ample energy to make a long tandem ride with my wife on my Sunday off. Our goal was to make 60 miles, the most we have ever done in a day. All said and done we tipped the odometer to 58.4, and logged just over 4 hours in the saddle. That's about the equivalent of a quick marathon for me in terms of time, though cycling and running are quite different. Still it was a great accomplishment and I'm feeling like that made up for the lost running days, and is certainly a confidence booster in terms of my overall fitness. With the rains about to settle in, that will likely be the last long ride for the season. Now to get back on my feet!

Somedays I get, as a gift, something I call a lollipop. It's a sweet something, a compliment, an affirmation, a gift, usually small, that makes my heart smile and overwhelms any downers of the day. Today I got a lollipop on my run. About two miles out, on the B street trail, I passed a young mom and her maybe three year old daughter just sitting on a bench to rest. As I trotted by the little girl said, "Mommy! That old guy is running really FAST!"

Feeling twitchy today, too many irons on the stove and pots in the fire. Maybe it's the barometer dropping and the rain looming in the west . . . or that I didn't run yesterday (on purpose). Today should be an easy three miles to resume the program. I'm running to catch up in most phases of my life; except actual running. Being on the road is becoming my still place; I'm eager to get there today. Perhaps of interest: I just finished reading "Around the World in 80 Days". Phileas Fogg made the journey without running, once. Perhaps there are health advantages to staying calm, playing whist, and keeping a clockwork schedule. Absolute fantasy!

Today I set out to do 10 miles, somewhat ahead of schedule on my build up to the half marathon. I couldn't have customized a better day to run -- temperature in the high sixties, sunny, no wind, air clear. When I started my legs complained a bit, still remembering the hilly run from a few days ago, plus a happy skirmish on the track running sprint intervals yesterday. About 2.5 miles in I felt flimsy; but after a bite of homemade power bar I sort of found myself keeping on. I had Dixie Chics going on my iPod, decided on the run that I absolutely need to learn "Long Time Gone". Check it out for a metaphor for my life. And also made me miss my band, Area 52, big time, when we could find a song we wanted to do and just get down with it. I finished the run, actually 9.7 today, very pleased to be at this point in my long runs so soon. More happiness -- I've wanted to start shedding 10 pounds or so, with the longer runs I've dropped a couple, more on the way, less mass to move, more fun to have in the future.

This week has been a challenge to get on schedule! Monday I wilted in unseasonably warm weather, but made up a little distance on Tuesday. Today I'm at a clergy retreat in the woods near Eagle Creek, OR. With free time this afternoon I'm planning to take on what is billed as a challenging 10k route in the vicinity of the retreat center. Just had lunch, caught up with emails, and now I am sleepy. Time to get moving!

Today I stretched my long run to 8 miles, rather by accident as I wasn't sure how far away exactly my turn around was. I'm finding a benefit of being a little older and slower is that I get to enjoy being out moving longer. Moving about and thinking while at it is a delicate miracle in the grand scheme. I've been reading about the history of earthly life, and feel awe over how it is I am human. For instance, each of us is a whole world to trillions of various bacteria, an incredibly ancient and varied form of life, who partner with us to metabolize food, convert oxygen to energy, and fight off bad germs. If we ever wonder whether or not such tiny friendly organisms exist all around, upon, and within us, all we need to remind us is that we smell a bit funky after we exercise. Bacteria are our friends, but they do make us stink. As my bacteria are communicating their existence to me now I believe I will shower; another wonder in itself.

Monday, 3 miles, Tuesday, 4 miles, Wednesday 3 mile walk for a break. Today I hope to get back in my five fingers and manage 4 miles. With a busy Saturday, I may need to attempt to move up my long run to Friday -- I'm due for 7 miler. The weather is perfect, sunny and cool, lots of fall colors here in Forest Grove. The air smells of ripe fruit of all kinds. On the hills, the grape vines are also changing to autumn colors. Nice day, hope you are having a good one, too!