On This Day I Can Run...So I Will!

Easy run.  AP 10:36.  Nice to sleep in and start when I want (Spring Break!).

spinning :0

Watch was not co-operating.  Finally found the satellites during the last 2 miles.  AP: 9:46.  I was on the rail trail and these little black bugs were flying all over.  I would have to swat as I was running because they would just float in the air in front of me.  Had a few bounce off my forehead and glasses.  When I finished my run, I looked down and my blue shirt looked polka-dotted because the little black bugs were all over me.  Thank goodness they were harmless and I was able to simply pick them off.  One of them made it all the way home with me and ended up being a kitty toy for my cat :)

Meeting a friend this afternoon for some racquet ball.  Never have played before...wish me luck!

spinning :)  Right arm sore from racquet ball yesterday.

Played 18 holes of golf today.  First time ever playing.  Exercise was great but I didn't hit that great :)

My body was still tired from golfing yesterday.  I struggled the first couple of miles then decided I needed to switch up my game plan.  Instead of going slow and steady I would do spurts of speed (8:30-8:50 pace), then walk to recover.  I didn't stop my watch during the walking time and I still ended up with a 10:20 AP.  My original plan was 13 miles today but I'm happy with plan B.  Tomorrow I signed up for hike in the mountains (12 miles or so).  I will meet the hiking club in downtown DC and we take a bus to the Apalachian Trail.  I haven't hiked with this club in years so I am real excited.  

3 early miles in the hood :)

Heard on the radio about a local 10k so decided to include it in my long run.  I registered at 7:30 am then went back to my car, finished my breakfast, and killed some time.  Decided to run 3 miles before the race so I could get my 10 miles in.  Made it back to the starting line just in time for the national anthem and the start.  It was a beautiful run in Amish country.  Nice to be in new surroundings and have water stations :)   When I finished there were tents full of free food...hotdogs, barbeque, stuffed ham, pasta, bagels, fruit, etc.  I'm used to having a free beer after a race so I asked a volunteer where the free beer was.  She laughed and looked at me like I was joking.  I said no, serious, where is the free beer?  I explained the beer ritual after racing and she said sorry... no beer on this race.  

Checked the results and I placed 4th in my age category.  Only 8 runners in my age category but that's okay :)  I'll take it!

Forgot to say that after I finished, I still had almost a mile to run before hitting the 10 mile mark.  People must have thought I was crazy as I kept running after passing through the finish.  Great experience!

Went for an evening run.  Not something I'm used to.  Was hard to get started and hard to keep going.  Felt like I accomplished something when I was done :)

4 miles on the rail trail after work :)

Ran the half with my nephew Mike.  This was his first 1/2 so I was real excited for him.  It poured down rain the whole race (the whole day).  We were  soaked.   Mike had to stop periodically to get the mud out of his shoes that had oozed in.  The last 3 miles were through the woods so Mike and I were running through mini rivers and lakes on the muddy road.  

The "mulch covered sand" (from previous runs) is now pine needle and pine cone covered sand.  The pine cones and wet ground made it tricky coming down hills near the end but we managed not to fall (especially tricky for Mike because he couldn't wear his glasses in the rain).   

We also had a friend named Jeffrey running with us.  He was going for a personal PR so we didn't see him during the race.  Mike is the one with the beard.  Jeffery is the one in the back.  I'm the one with the green headband (I wore it in memory of my friend 'Greany'.  He died 1 year ago on this day).  

Great race!  Great day!   

3 miles after work today.  Breaking in new shoes and inserts that I bought at the expo.  I also bought a water pack but hate the way it rides up on my hips.  That seems to be a persistant problem.  I have tried a variety of water devices but everything just flops around on my hips and drives me crazy.  

Got 3 miles in just before sunset.  Legs felt good buy my IT band starting acting up.  Stretched and rubbed it out then rolled it good after my run.  Hope it doesn't start acting up again.

5 miles after work.  Didn't have much energy but forced myself out.  Once I started, I felt very comfortable and enjoyed the easy run.  My IT band started again but less than last time.  If it still bothers me next run, I'm going to take a week off so it will heal (had the IT blues before, don't want that again).