Home Sweet Home

I'm back from the Land of the Rising Sun. Man, it felt good to get back to the motherland. I really missed good wine and Mexican food. I can tear into California rolls and tuna rolls no problem, but I'm not a big sashimi fan and even though yakatori sounds like a good idea, they don't always (re: usually) use the best parts of a chicken. It's usually lips and assholes, ya know? Gives new meaning to the expression, "Guess what? Chicken butt."

I did an easy run both yesterday and today and got the ol' pumpers back in action. It's been sluggish, but good. I have a 6 mile tempo run tomorrow that I'm nervous about, but what the hell. Gotta get it done. My back feels great which surprises me since my last day in Japan consisted of me carrying my camera (35 pounds) around for about 16 hours straight. I popped 2 Advil and drank a beer before hitting the sack. I was terrified I was going to wake up in the middle of the night with searing back pain, but I guess I'm in better shape than I thought. I seriously need to get a chance to compete in Ninja Warrior. I just know deep down I can kick some ass. Someday. Anyway, back to training for the Seal Beach 10k.

Long drought

I just ran for the first time since last Sunday (it's Saturday morning here in Japan) on a dreadmill on the 31st floor of a hotel overlooking Tokyo. Man it feels gooood to run after so long. I just sweat out all the crap that's building in my system for the past week. I know I am officially addicted on running now since all I could talk about was how I was looking forward to running when we got to the hotel. Everybody I'm traveling with looked at me like I was crazy. Since getting here I've stayed in four hotels (with one more tomorrow) and it's been planes, trains and automobiles and shoots from morning till night and today our call time was late enough I could get in a good 5 mile tempo run. Ahhh, normally I hate tempo runs, but this was nice. Anyway, the shoots are going great and I just saw that the convenience store in the hotel sells bottles of wine with screw caps so I guess I know what I'm doing tonight!

Tempo runs

Oh tempo runs, how I hate you so. Tempo runs on a treadmill, that is. Why does it seem like everything I do on a treadmill is harder than on the road? Running a certain pace seems like much more effort on the treadmill. I don't get it. Of course, Kristen is naturally gifted and very hard working so she thinks I'm crazy whenever I say this to her. Even when I'm mentally pumped up for a run on the treadmill I still notice the difference. It's not as bad in the morning as it is in the afternoon or evening which is why I prefer morning workouts, but I swear I'm not crazy. Example: I ran a 10k this past weekend and my pace was a little faster than my pace for the tempo run that I did on the treadmill today and my legs felt like lead. My lungs and heart rate were fine, but the kickers were no es bueno. Maybe I need a jolt of caffeine before afternoon runs from now on. Any advice? Thanks!