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McKenzie River Trail

November 9, 2013 (Afternoon)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: high 40s, dry, overcast

Comments:
Got up pretty early (7?) - saw the text from BGD in the middle of the night with SADEZ' pic! Awesome!

Worked hard on the column, getting the rough draft done. 6500 words! Oh shit! But it's good stuff. A lot of interview content of Geoff, Neal.

After that, went to REI to return my HRM strap (stopped working!). They didn't have a replacement on hand, so I had to roll without one for this run.

Drove all the way out to McK River Trail. Hadn't been out since BGD was here, and I hadn't run this far since May (http://running-log.com/workouts/1935234?athleteid=45). That was a good, easy run. I was much fitter then, and the trail drier. My splits were somewhat similar - a bit slower outbound, and I'm guessing the HR higher. Or maybe not, I dunno. Kept it very easy. It was muddier though, but not too wet, and the skies were dry!

Ran a solid 100 minutes out (there's a distinct "clearing" where 100 minutes puts me, so I couldn't have been too slow), then returned. Listened to a "Rich Roll" podcast (he's a nutrition, endurance coach - a little "extreme") with Ben Greenfield (another enduro - also half-nuts). That podcast was like 1:50 so it was almost perfect. Then on the way back, I listened to URP's Rory Bosio podcast, which got me nearly back to Trail Bridge (where BGD and I stopped on our run).

I have decided it is time to start hard running. It's been three months of 99% aerobic running only, and, nine weeks(!!!) out from Bandera, it is time. So when I got to Trail Bridge, I flipped on some tunes and straight-hammered!

I ran hard, especially pushing the brief ups, Jimothy-style. They're so much easier when you know they're finite (e.g. under a minute) and flat/downhill will follow. Really focused on trunk forward/hip hinge, arm swing (namely L back, R forward - which drives the R hip back). Felt pretty good, but it was tough! Kept it up for 35 minutes, until the last 3/4 mi before the TH; I slowed down big-time to a shuffle cooldown once there.

It was hard, but I felt good. AND, given that I did ~140 minutes of "warm-up" with zero food or water, then hammered (invariably 170-180 HR) for 35 minutes, anaerobic, without problems, is a good sign.

BGD might not read this 'til...his daughter is ten (and he can settle down! ;-)), but a woman update:

- No comm from Teresa last night. It's a tough call. On one hand, I feel the need to give space. On the other, if there's an issue - and she's not happy, for any reason - I'd like to talk about it. BUT back in the first hand, when I tried to engage her on Wednesday, she wasn't having it. So, "space", it is. No comm today, either.

- A brief little text-exchange with Chelsea last night, regarding class. In my last msg, I told her that I thought she "looked great. Happy and at peace". I meant that. She really does.

- So last night I'm at Oakshire brew pub, trying to get my article done, when one of Cliff's friends - Mark - comes in. We exchange hellos, he offers to have me come over with him and a couple friends, but I'm committed to my work, so I stay solo. Maybe 20 minutes later a VERY attractive woman comes in and sits with Mark! A-ha. About 10 minutes later, he waves me over, apparently wanting to share some awesome 'zza with me. He introduces me to hot woman, Melissa, and says, "You guys should know each other". Uh-huh. Some brief chatting, and another invite over; I demurred one more time but said "Maybe soon", and left.

Before that, I got a text from Tommy saying he was on the prowl, so I had him come to Oakshire.

The computer battery was almost dead, and I was intrigued with Melissa, so I packed up and headed over to their table, where it was her, Mark and another guy, Jeff (not el Jefe!).

So I sit down. Ringless. So, I "go to work". Again, it's just super important (in general) to be outgoing and friendly with EVERYONE, not just the cute girl, so I engage immediately with Jeff beside me. He's older (late 40s/50s?), so we talk about random stuff. Melissa engages me, asking about my AR50 jacket. B-)

Tommy later shows up, so I engage with him as well, only intermittently engaging with Melissa (but still being very nice/polite, obvs), but letting Jeff obviously flatter/flirt with her, and ask all the "questions", while I sneak-listen, while chatting with others.

Ultimately, we do engage, and have a great convo about one of my favorite girl topics: fashion. We talk about EUG fashion and I tell her about my "mission", then ask her to join me (the pseudo-ask out - just mild interest in something fun). We talk about shoes, and she rips on mine (wearing clean, white Nike Zoom Marathoners, w/jeans, t-shirt and matching necklace). Apparently you're not supposed to wear white shoes with jeans! Huh! Now I'm definitely intrigued, since she inadvertently "negged me". Ha!

Whatever the case, it must've been good, because she wound up giving me her business card with her number on it, saying she wanted in on the "Thursday night dress-up night"! Ha! YES! I didn't even have to ask!

By then, Mr's Roberts and Madson showed up, and Mark left. But she stayed with our group for a bit (good sign), then finally left.

As I usually do, I immediately texted her (just light, funny stuff - just to establish that connection and keep things fresh), so we wound up having a text fest for like 45 minutes! HA!

So...good night. Was home by 10ish.

I'm not out to girl-hoard, by any means. But I don't have a good feeling about the Teresa situation; Chelsea has a lonnnnnnng way to prove if there's anything at all salvageable there, so there's no doubt in my mind that I need to keep "networking". And this woman - albiet divorced and with child[ren?] - is a 30-something professional (freelance photographer) who's a cute chick with a hot ass.

Wound up text-festing again this evening (me saying that I got "new shoes"). We *might* connect later tonight (she's "going out with friends" and shot me a pseudo-invite), so we'll see what happens there. B-)

Anyway, the "formula" is solid: be positive and friendly, but "win the room" by being engaging with everyone else (to demo confidence and being a unifier), then gradually engage with the woman, both demonstrating value and being funny, creative, and not boring. It's a gold-medal formula. And, it's in line with my Mission, which is to be a leader, helper, nuturer, etc.