Speedwork and Hills

The Ironmen are tapering so tonight's track workout was a short one.  We warmed up by running over to a neighborhood where we have a 3/10 mile steep uphill climb.  We did that three times; normally, we do it 6-8 times.  Then, it was back to the track to do 3 400s with a 400 recovery between repeats.  I don't know what came over me, my 400s came in at 1:44, 1:43, and 1:40.  Those times equal 6:41, 6:35, and 6:20 pace.  I didn't even think I could run that fast!!  I know I wouldn't have done that very many more times.
It was nice to be done with the workout and be home shortly after 8 pm!

I read online today that it was 10 years ago when there was a huge power outage from the East coast to Michigan.  I remember that day!  I was at my niece's to help her get ready to go on vacation.  She had just put a load of laundry in the dryer and started another load in the washer when the power went out.  I remember that we went outside and some other people were out there and told us that the power was going out all over the state and all over the east coast.  We got into my car and turned on the radio to WJR, the big talk radio station in Detroit.  I decided that my daughter and I should head home since there were no traffic lights and all lights will be treated as 4 way stops.  It was afternoon and would soon be rush hour but with the power outage it was possible that people would be leaving work.  Our power at home came on soon after we got home; I guess we got lucky in this area.  Something I didn't know at the time that I read today is that Detroit was right on the edge of the power outages and we are about 1.5 hour WEST of Detroit so we were spared the worst of it.  I called my niece and told her that we had power so her and my nephew got the laundry out of the dryer and pulled the clothes out of the water in the washer and brought them and the rest of their laundry here.  She had clothes in my dryer and washer and a load in her Mother's washer and in my Mother-in-law's (her Grandmother) washer. She got all her laundry done and they stayed overnight at her parents' house and went back to pack the next day when it was light and then they were off on their vacation.  When the power was back on in her area, I went to her apartment and drained the washing machine that was sitting there full of water.  I remember that it smelled bad so I had to run the washer empty after I drained it.  I also did some cleaning since she wasn't able to finish it once the power went out. 
I saw some pictures online, today, of that day.  They were pictures of a dark new york city skyline against the setting sun and streets with cars with lights on against the backdrop of dark buildings.   There were pictures of the bridges with solid people walking across; I assume that they weren't able to ride the subway so they were walking home.  I don't recall seeing pictures like that back in 2003.  It's hard to believe that 10 years have passed since that day. 

Runner Nerd
ran fast 400s