Rainmaker’s coming
Rainmaker’s coming
Rainmaker’s coming
to soak us with water

— frederick mark linkous

—

The facts as we know them:

■ I married someone from the Pacific Northwest.

■ It rained all day today.

Coincidence? Seems unlikely. Still, totally worth it for the chocolate chip cookies alone. Also, smoochies.

20 miles, off and on while dodging puddles and downpours. These things are NOT supposed to happen in the desert.

The greenbelt is built as a retention basin for when things go crazy upstream, so there was much swimming today. Luckily I have totally neglected my upper body training, so this worked out well. Note to self: Add snorkel to running bag. Other note to self: Remember running bag. Other note to self: Unleashed pit bulls are not your friend.

Upside: I’m up to no. 10 in the monthly mileage game. And 20 miles was pretty easy, giving me a glimmer of confidence for 22 miles in October. Now the trick is to do 22 miles 31 days in a row. Whose idea was this again? I think it was Coach Daniels. Likely hitting the virtual bottle.

Downside: The Fit PA Fancy Pants Fitness Plan and Predictor of Certain Doom© says I am dead. My readiness level was 6% after the run, a new record. I have perversely taken an interest in seeing how low I can get it. Might it have negative numbers? The coach wants me to take the next two days off. Which unfortunately are both 12 milers. I suspect we will no longer be on speaking terms by Halloween.

There’s probably much to be said for relaxing in a spirit ditch. But then Mr. Linkous fatally shot himself in the chest. I contend that’s still easier than 31 consecutive 22 milers. Rainmaker’s coming …