One in (and of) Three

Week 11, Key Run #2: 5.8 miles in approx. :43:22 min. @ 3:25 p.m.
Plan: 5 mile run @ MT pace
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 29°F, 43% Humidity, Wind: From SE @ 3 mph; feels like 29°F.
Target Tempo Pace: 7:41 min/mi (MT)/ 44:25 min/mile total
Actual Tempo Pace: 7:30 min/mi
Course: A short jaunt up to and around the Cobbs Hill Park neighborhood.

Pre-Run Ruminations: This afternoon's run is the first since three days ago, and the first of three in a row, including a 5-mile road race tomorrow morning amidst a busy weekend schedule (when isn't it?) which includes my son singing in a regional choral competition.

Driving home this afternoon after work, I was really trying to convince myself not to go out for a run: "It's freaking cold!" "I shouldn't run today, I'm in a race tomorrow!" "I don't have any bright sweatshirts washed... someone will run into me!" I even managed to convince myself that my legs hurt too much, when in truth they only ached when I though about them aching.

After much procrastination ("those dishes in the dishwasher must be put away now!"), I (still) reluctantly got my act together and headed out...

Post-Run Reflections: Whoo-wee! While I feel ecstatic now, immediately following my run, I imagine that later I may be little sorry I tried to move as quickly as I (think) I did. As is often the case when I run after noon, I felt a little like a giant bowling ball with little stick legs and arms huffing-puffing around my neighborhood. It was not graceful or easy. But, I did it. I hit the pace, likely by really pushing it in the second half after dogging it "warming up" in the first.

C'est la vie... I did it, and that's what matters for this thirty seconds!

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!