Post-vacation rust

Our four day vacation in the countryside was a disaster in many ways. It was nice to be out of the city, but the weather was cloudy, humid, and hot but it simply would not rain. People and horses alike were tired, the countryside was drought-tired, and the few relatively cool moments of the morning couldn't offset the killing humidity. So, I practically didn't move the whole time, and today it was time to get back into the training groove.-----------------------------------------------------Adrián has some plan in mind that will have me doing 5K in 25 minutes by August. It seems unbelievable to me, but he has done wonders with people who are coming back from serious injuries and even surgery. That could mean that by next February I might even cross the finish line on foot and not on a stretcher. But at my age, coming back from four days of doing nothing means every joint, tendon, and ligament is rusted. Even my mind was having trouble turning over.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This means that next week in Seattle, there will be no rest for the weary and the old. Near to my son's house there is a large pond circumnavegated by a running path that measures exactly half a mile. There are a couple of horrific uphill sections that seem to go on for about ten miles--again, the time-warp factor--but by dang, the weather is fantastic for running. A long time ago in a CPR class I took, the doctor mentioned that if you are going to have a heart attack, do it in Seattle. In proportion to the population, more people know CPR in Seattle than in any other city in the U.S. Seattle is also one of those places where you rarely see immensely fat people, and it seems most of the population is out running no matter what the weather. If that doesn't get me out and moving, there is no hope for me. By that time, I will also have been able to get myself proper running clothes and I will no longer be tripping over a sweat-soaked cotton tee.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Adrián seems to have something terrible planned for Sunday, some kind of trotting activity over "rougher terrain", whatever that means. God. And here I've been avoiding the crosswalk paint! "You'll use different muscles", he informs me. Yes, falling often does call other muscles into play.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Meanwhile, back at the ranch, a virtual running pal suggested protein supplements to keep one's appetite under control; you may have spent around 350 calories during a training session, but your body wants to replace that with around 3000 calories to make sure you are well-nourished and ready for tomorrow. We're not talking an attack of the munchies here, but real, physiological hunger. So a friend with whom I took bellydancing classes is coming over with some good protein supplements. She sells them, and she lost over 60 pounds on a diet regimen that included these products. At this point, anything that will make my stomach realize it has actually been fed. I'll let you know if the stuff works.