A clydesdale no more!

Woke up to great running weather - mid 60's with a slight breeze.  Started with 3 easy miles to warm up then ran 4 miles at tempo pace.  First mile felt alright but not great (6:26).  Second mile felt better and came in at 6:24.  Really had to start working on the third (6:23).  Started to have thoughts of quitting after 3 but kept at it.  First 1/3 of the last mile was slow (6:31/mile pace) and I let self doubt creep in.  Picked up the pace to get my legs to wake up and finished the mile in 6:24).  Cooled down with 2 easy miles while being treated to a pretty cool lightning show. 

Very good run.  Weather was perfect and my legs felt good.  

Ran from home up to the mouth of MP canyon again for a good hill run.  Going up felt a lot better this week than it did last week.  I didn't push the pace but the effort felt good.  Coming down I tried to push the pace while keeping my form smooth.  The pace felt good although not as quick as I would have liked. Once I finished the big downhill my form on the flatter terrain felt a lot better. 

Nice and easy recovery run. Lower legs were sore but it is a good sore.

My knees felt stiff this morning and it didn't feel like they were bending at all.  I felt like Frankenstein.  Lots of thinking during the run.

Drove to meet the running club and it was a small group so I opted to drive back home and do an out and back route from my house.  The road where the running club met is only 7.5 miles and I didn't want to do it twice.  It was absolutely perfect running weather.  I ran a route that I haven't done for several months.  It was nice to have different scenery.  Kept the pace pretty easy and just enjoyed the run.  Left hamstring started to rebel the last mile because I haven't run 15 miles in a long time.  Just in case you were wondering, I can no longer stomach purple rain Gatorade.

Alright Kathie, here is the dream.  It wasn't naughty or anything.  I was with somebody on a park bench and she was in my arms and fell asleep while I was holding her.  I can distinctly remember the smell of her hair and look on her face.  I woke up with the most intense emotions that I have felt in a very long time.  Of course waking up to reality made the feelings that much more memorable.