Busy, busy, busy

I keep telling myself that as soon as I accomplish X, Y, or Z, things will slow down and I'll have more time for everything else.  Instead, I finish X, Y, and Z and discover A, B, C, and D waiting for me!  This past week was no different, and the activity that gets dropped is usually my running.  The good thing is that I have entered the Cutthroat Classic, so I have something to train for; that is not a race where one can just show up and gut it out.  I have to get in shape for that one, especially since I signed up for wave one.  I had to miss the race the last two years, so I'm excited to train for it again.  I just hope I don't end up with another injury like two years ago, and especially not another funeral to attend like last year.  At any rate, my running did suffer this week, but I think I'm gradually making improvements and I'm certain I'll be ready by August, baring disaster.

Monday was a complete loss, however.  I had students come in for makeup work right after school and I had to type up lesson plans for my substitute on Tuesday.  I didn't leave the building until after 6pm.  It would have been pretty tough to run outside anyway since there was still so much snow.

Tuesday was much better.  After working so late on Tuesday, I was determined to avoid going back to the building after my all-day meeting at the district office.  I live closer to the district office than I do to the school, so I just headed for home after the meeting ended.  I stopped at my parents' house and saw that there was still plenty of snow in the front field, so I put Blaze's harness on him and skijored in the field.  We did two big loops and Kari ran loose with us so that she wouldn't feel left out.  Then I put Kari in the house and took Blaze for a three mile run in the slush up Robbins Road.

I had progress report grades due on Wednesday, but I ran on Thursday--it was my usual three mile loop in the Dishman Hills.  Friday was too busy again and I skipped the workout.

Saturday was the main event of the week: The sixth annual Bounder Paws and Poles skijor/snowshoe race at 49 Degrees North.  I can't believe there have been six of them; I think I've done nearly all of them (I just can't remember if I did the very first one).  This was the first time that I brought Blaze instead of Kari; she just can't do that distance anymore.  Blaze actually raced this time, too!  We took first place and completed the 5k in 15:23.  In skijoring it's as much about how one's dog behaves as it is about the ability level of the skier; there were MUCH faster skiers present, but Blaze was the fastest dog.  We did about a mile warm up, skied the 5k, and then went around the loop again for the cool down.  Then I drove out to the Springdale property for an extra hike in the snow; I didn't go far, maybe two more miles.

Sunday was another slushy run--this time up the Antoine Peak conservation area to the first valley overlook and back (four miles).  After that I did a little more pruning in the orchard...and right now I'm procrastinating on the paper grading as I type this update.  Time to get back to work!

Weekly totals:  Skijor = 9 miles; Hike = 2 miles; Run = 10 miles