Bad Teeth and Track Intervals

Back again today for my first root canal of the new year. (I'm running out of nerves to remove.) This latest one stems from an ancient root canal — my very first back in 1977 — that finally grew infected. We're heading it off before the thing balloons out my jaw in a big pain bubble. Perhaps I'll get a new Flinstone's toothbrush.

Tomorrow night I start interval training on a track. (Intervals are a series of short fast runs that build stamina and speed.) I'm preparing for the first workout of Summer Team in Training in February. There's a timed 3 mile run around the Rose Bowl that determines what pace groups we'll train with. I'd like to make a good showing.

When training begins, we'll do long runs with the Team on Saturdays. The Saturday pace is slow, two minutes slower than you'd normally run. This relaxed pace builds up aerobic capacity and endurance. Eventually you work up to 20 miles, then taper off toward the marathon.

Our Winter Team members ran well at the P.F. Chang Marathon. Phoenix is flatter than a billiard table which surely helped. But hard training did the real work and I congratulate them.

And now, time for dental fun!