10 mile pace run - a little late

I am a little late in posting this, but other things were calling my attention - like a 7:00 a.m. meeting.

So, The Cousins, He Who Shall Not Be Named and Kwik Trip Gal ran our 10 mile pace run. I think we did well - at 8:44 pace. Newbie Runner (Todd) also joined us for 6 miles of it. He did GREAT! He hung with us which is pretty amazing - not because we run super fast, but because he is pretty new to us and it wasn't really fair for us to "change things up" on him this early. BUT Marathon training must go on! We really weren't trying to run away from him.... REALLY - even if he is a Vikings Fan!

I learned quite a bit about He Who Shall Not Be Named today. One, as a teacher he sure doesn't practice what he preaches. You would not BELIEVE how many times I had to tell him to Shut Up! when I was trying to explain the route. Hopefully he learned his lesson during one of the many of times that he tried to turn when we were going straight or when he went straight when we turned. Note that I said WE - everyone else (who had their listening caps on and their mouths closed) knew where to go. No extra steps by us. I had no sympathy for him. It was a good life lesson for him.

We were also talking about musical devices and the things we used to and still call them.... like boombox and walkman instead of mp3 player. We are so.....o old. He Who Shall Not Be Named admitted that when he first was running he listened to a cd player but it would skip. So he would have to run with his hand out, palm up and his cd player lying flat. I thought it sounded like some yoga pose. I think this means he would make a good pacer for a marathon. I always wonder how those people run 26.2 miles holding a stick with their pace time on a flag at the top of it. Plus, he said he didn't have any goal for his 3rd marathon except that he wanted to be under 4 hours. Ah! We had to remind him that most people (including 3 of us running) couldn't run a marathon under 4 so running a marathon under 4 hours really is a GOAL. I think it was really his usual way of trying to get people to admire him without looking like that is what he is trying to do.

Surprise!

We got a nice surprise this morning as we were running the dreaded Margaret loop!

Katie!

She is back at running. She said that she wasn't sure if she could keep up with us since it was her first day back after surgery. We were so taken aback by her appearance that we believed her. So she turned with us and continued until her turn back to home point. So glad she is back! Now, where is Elyse?

Yesterday I was suffering from my long run. It just wiped me out. Christy mentioned she was happy I FINALLY moved on to a new excuse - post vacation run - and got of my blood donation excuse. Apparently, she did not give up whining for lent either that or she needs to go to confession.

Tomorrow there is a 79% chance it will be raining at 5:00 am. The season of getting up, walking outside with my hands up in the air (to see if it is raining, not praying for rain) and turning around (just in case this helps a rain drop hit me) has begun!

2:30 Done

Done with the 2:30 long run! Many, Many THANKS to Jill who ran it with me at the ridiculous time of 11:00.

I started out feeling really good, especially considering we got back from ski vacation the night before. Normally, my first run after a vacation is not great - sluggish. I think it is because I am out of my routine and eating habits are less than ideal (not that they normally are). But today I felt really good. I think part of it was that I got to get out of the house for 2.5 hours and away from the kids (yes, I do love them, but after a week of vacation I am ready for some ALONE time) plus J could get caught up on laundry!

So, I felt in high spirits for about the first 50 minutes. The next 1:40 minutes was a struggle. It has been a long time where I have stopped to "take a break" with only 15 minutes to go. I am afraid this is one of my quirks that I am sure drives my running partners crazy. You would think I could push through it and just run those 15 minutes and get it done with, but sadistically I feel the need to walk. AND I even turn off my watch so is not like I letting myself not run those 15 minutes. Nope, I am just stretching out the pain and agony even longer!

So, we ran 15.68 and nice weather. No sun, but little wind and relatively warm. A lot of spring weather walkers were out and about.