Today's Tremulous Tempo Attempt

SLOP

verb (used with object), slopped, slop·ping.

1. to spill or splash (liquid).
2. to spill liquid upon.
3. to feed slop to (pigs or other livestock).

verb (used without object), slopped, slop·ping.

1. to spill or splash liquid (sometimes followed by about):
2. The children happily slopped about in the puddles.
3. (of liquid) to spill or splash out of a container (usually followed by over):
4. The milk slopped over the rim of the glass.
5. to walk or go through mud, slush, or water.
6. Informal. to be unduly effusive or sentimental; gush (usually followed by over).
   
7. to move in an idle, lazy, casual, or slovenly manner (usually followed by around or about):
8. to spend the weekend slopping around the house.

    noun

1. a quantity of liquid carelessly spilled or splashed about.
2. badly cooked or unappetizing food or drink.
3. bran from bolted cornmeal mixed with an equal part of water and used as a feed for swine and other livestock.
4. any similar, watery feed; swill.
5. Often slops.
6. the dirty water, liquid refuse, etc., of a household or the like.
7. tasteless or unappetizing soup, stew, or drink.
8. kitchen refuse; swill.
9. liquid mud.
10. slops, Distilling. the mash remaining after distilling.

I did not realize that slop had so many definitions. To these, I would add,  "What happens when roads are salted, and about two inches of snow falls on top of that, as in 'The roads were sloppy for today's run.'" You can also use slop as an excuse. So for this, I would add, "A possible reason why a runner may not be able to accomplish a tempo run, as in, 'I couldn't get to tempo speed because of the sloppy streets.'" But the final definition option includes the provision that slop on the roads shouldn't actually be used as an excuse, as in, "Dan probably would not have managed to get to tempo pace, even if the street slop hadn't been there."

At least (there's always an at least, isn't there) I did manage to get close to tempo pace for three of today's nine miles. Close, but no cigar.