09/15/11: The Ides of September

Today was another two-fer day.

It started with my alarm going off at 4:34 am.

Why 4:34? Who knows. I was turning it back to 4:30, and that's where I stopped. I purposefully do things to make my OCD go nuts. It's a hobby. :-)

So anyway, it went off....I turned it off and got up. No snooze.

Yep, for those of you that know me.....I'll give you a second to let that process.

No. Snooze.

For real.

I had a 4.5 mile run on the schedule.....and I was bound and determined to get it in and done. Because I'm still trying to avoid hills as much as I can before these two half marathons coming up...I have to drive somewhere in the city that is flat.

For those of you who've never been to Omaha, Nebraska....and you've heard it's flat. You've been misinformed. I can't, anywhere near my house, run without going up and down them constantly. Very few flat stretches at all. The city trail that runs through town, runs along a creek.....so it's where I've been heading lately.

I put on my spaghetti strap tank top....shorts......new full compression socks (not just sleeves)....and off I went.

It wasn't until I got TO the trail that I noticed how chilly it was.

Compared to what it has been lately....it was downright cold actually. Mid 40's (about 7 or 8 C).

It's been a while that I've run when it's that temperature....and was reminded of a few things.
1) The area between the tops of my compression socks, and the bottom of my shorts (mainly my knees and some lower thigh) get cold. So cold that when I take a hot shower upon my return, the water bouncing off of my legs is freezing...even though it's hot coming out of the faucet.
2) I have a hard time seeing when I run. Not because it's dark...I have my headlamp. No, it's because I can see my breath. You know how it's hard to see when driving in the fog....and the higher beams actually make it worse? It's the same way with my breath in the light of my headlamp. I find myself breathing out of the side of my mouth. It must be completely attractive. :-)

So, the 4.5 miles went OK. The full socks actually helped some of the pain. But not as much as I was hoping. I've only used them once, so I'm still hopeful they'll make a difference in the long run. (no pun intended)

I made it to about 2 miles when I looked at my watch for the time. Between getting dressed and then driving to the place I was running.....I found I'd really be pushing it in time to get the full 4.5 miles in, get home,. showered and then back to work in time.

My pace from last year is nearly 2 minutes/mile slower. Frustrating does not even begin to describe my feelings on it. I was running slowly, and still running 10:30 miles....now I'm having to really push it to get faster then 12:30. A.N.N.O.Y.I.N.G. But.....I'm running...so I can't complain toooooooo much. :-)

I'm happy to report I came in contact with zero skunks (THREE of them in one single 3 mile run last time I ran the same stretch).....and the only other people I saw were on bikes. One of them was extremely friendly...we passed each other twice. Both times we had a small chat while speeding past each other.

"good morning!!"
"good morning to you!"
"enjoy your run!!"
"have a great ride"

and

"hello again!"
(giggle) "hi!!!"
"how far are you going?"
"not far....4.5...you?"
"until I decide to go home"
"I'm jealous!!!"
"don't be...retirement is boring....HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!"
"YOU TOO"

(by then we're yelling because we've passed each other and are on our way done the trail in opposite directions)

After work I came home for a couple hours, then headed to yoga for an hour.

Yep, I'm addicted. 100% It's a workout and it's so relaxing all at the same time. :-)

Well....I'd better head to bed. Tomorrow is Friday.....it's about time!!!!!! (hehehehehe)
________________________________________________

4.50, 56:05, 12:27 overall average pace, 513 calories, 180 Max HR, 158 Avg HR