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Today is the first day of classes for fall term 2008. I don’t have any Thursday or Friday classes, so I don’t really start until Monday. Nevertheless, I’m here in the library, plugging away on cases.

To sum up summer term: it started out okay, and then led straight to the sucking.  My final grade is technically a passing one, but I’m not proud. At least I don’t have to take the class again. Hopefully, I passed the MPRE, and I won’t have to retake the state exam.

Fall term schedule: Business Associations (consisting of a mix of rules about agencies, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations), Evidence, and, at long last, Constitutional Law.  I was a political science undergrad, and I’ve been looking forward to this class for two years.

Working:  Yet again, I’ll be working for LexisNexis and working for the school library.

Today’s Run:
Distance: 5.35 miles
Time: 0:53:21 hours
Average pace: 00:9:59 hours
10 days until The Human Race

I’ve been off on my running schedule because of the vacation. I tried one more run up at the lake and it was the second worst bit of exercise I’ve ever put myself through. No breakfast. Running on asphalt in 80° temperature that was quickly rising. No sunscreen. At 3300 miles above sea level. At least I wore my hat. By the end of that run, I think I was about five minutes from a nice bout of heat stroke (I know what that feels like thanks to the worst bit of exercise I’ve ever done - a nice 10 mile bike ride on asphalt on a completely empty stomach and 100° heat. You think I’d have learned something, but apparently not…). And the very next day after that run, I pulled my leg muscle while trying to learn to waterski. Nothing serious, but it hurt at the time and has been a bit stiff ever since. Suffice to say, I took the rest of the vacation off from running.

Since returning home, I’ve been trying to adopt a morning exercise schedule. On Monday, I ran a 3 miles around 10 am to test my leg out and get the feel of things. It went alright (I could definitely feel the temp rising) but I’d waited too long since my breakfast bar.

Today was much better. Up at 8:30, ate some food, went to the park in a reasonable time afterward. did a full 5.5 laps, and my leg loosened up nicely while I was running. Just 11 days to go, but I think I’ll be able to run the whole 10K.

Today’s Run:

Distance: 5.30 miles
Time: 0:53:00 hours
Average pace: 00:9:59 hours
11 days until The Human Race

I took my state exam on Friday, and I’m not thinking about it anymore. If I passed, great. If I didn’t, well, I just have to pass it sometime before I can actually start to practice.

We’re up at Bass Lake, about an hour from Yosemite National Park. Cheryl, Grandpa Leo, Donut, Chris, and I have rented a house for the week. We have access to a cute little pool with a small hot tub, cable, DVDs, and surprisingly, internet. On Tuesday, we’re going to rent a motorboat and water ski. On Thursday, we’re doing a day trip to Yosemite. But just because I’m on vacation, it doesn’t mean I get to slack off! I printed out a week’s worth of cases to try and get a head start on fall. I also brought my running shoes and Sport Band. Turns out 15 laps around our little gated rental area is 5 miles. Donut and I ran last night, and were reminded of something we should have considered - altitude. Bass Lake is at about 3,300 miles above sea level; LA is only 100 or so.

Yesterday’s Run:

Distance: 5.05 miles
Time: 0:51:37 hours
Average pace: 00:10:12 hours
22 days until The Human Race

As of tonight, I’ve run more then 100 miles since I started training in May.

Today’s Run:
Distance: 5.15 miles
Time: 0:52:02 hours
Average pace: 00:10:06 hours
Temp at start: 82°F
Temp at finish: 76 °F
27 days until The Human Race

I’ve spent the days since my final doing nothing important and loving every minute of it. On Friday I read a lot. On Saturday, just for something different, we took Chris’ gun over to a local shooting range and attacked some paper targets.  I figure since its in the house, I should know how to use it. Well, now I know, even if I can’t hit the broad side of a barn. As Chris said, it looks like we’re lovers, not fighters.

Today, Jacques brought brother Matt (aka Donut) down from Santa Cruise. The boys are settling in for a little Warcrafting. Chris is playing again, after almost a year sober, because Blizzard sent him a beta key for the new expansion. Picture a crack dealer talking to an old customer, and offering a sample of the new line.

In a few hours, its off to Badier’s for Venture Sunday and Popsicles.

Today’s Run:
Distance: 5.06 miles
Time: 0:52:36 hours
Average pace: 00:1023
Temp at start: 81°F
Temp at finish: 76 °F
28 days until The Human Race

Getting closer every day.

Today’s Run:
Distance: 5.0 miles
Time: 0:51:39
Average pace: 00:10:19
Temp at start: 76°F
Temp at finish: 73 °F
29 days until The Human Race

I took the Professional Responsibility final tonight, and I’m now officially on Summer Break Part 2. This, along with a glass or two of wine, is how I’m celebrating:

Anyway, I have a state exam to take next Friday, on the same topic. Then its off to Bass Lake for a week of fun. There is talk of boat rentals, and fishing (which I haven’t done in years) and water skiing (which I’ve never done at all). Should be quite relaxing.

Tomorrow’s plan is to do nothing important. Sleep late. Beat Portal. Read (I’m reading Wheel of Time again - about 1/3 of the way through Great Hunt). Meet Chris and his work boys for coffee. Go for a run. NOT think about my grades. It will be wonderful.