I'm so pleased with myself for getting out for runs 3 weekdays this week! There have been (too) many weeks in which I don't run at all except for Saturday morning running group! I'm going to do the 5k here on Saturday, and the last almost-mile of it is up a big hill that's right near my house, and it helps me mentally to run up it a couple of days before hand. The worst thing about my house is that it's at the bottom of a hill, and no matter which direction I head there's nowhere to go but up! (The best thing is that on the way home, it's downhill!). I didn't want to run up that particular hill first thing, though, so I turned left instead of right and went up the other big hill. I went into this paved trail that we call Habu Hills or Habu Trail. I've never actually been afraid running by myself on Okinawa, but running Habu by myself does creep me out a little. Maybe because it's named after Oki's deadliest snake! At any rate, I was happy to see two other runners back there! I came out of the Habu trail & ran up the hill that's at the end of the 5k. I did really well at first, but then I hit the 3 mile mark and gave myself the okay to take it a little bit easier the rest of the way up the hill. I ran the rest of the way to the finish line and did a lap around the track to make 4 miles. Then I took a 2 minute walk break and then cooled-down the last mile home. I ended up averaging 10 minute miles. Those hills just get me every time! 10:43 (uphill the entire time), 9:10 (huge hills, but some downhills too), 9:31 (almost all uphill), 10:05 (about half uphill and half level ground), 10:34 (2 minute walk break and level ground/downhill cool down) I won't run again until Saturday morning, but I might go for a walk tomorrow morning. We'll see.
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