4.79 Miles on the morning run. Was cold outside (for NC anyway) @ 19 Deg. F. Since I am running with the gang at lunch today I really wanted to take a VERY easy pace. I know I will have to give everything I have later today but wanted to keep my morning routine of getting up and running. I believe I am going to try to get up at the same time every day so that I can stay away from the lazy bug! Sleeping in is sort of like those potato chips... can't do it just one day! Oh well I digress... back to the run... I had loaded some new tunes on my MP3 player so I picked up the pace and it felt good.
Lunch run... wow I HATE thinking about running with the gang! I just know it is going to be painful (i.e. pushing my threshold) but wow does it feel great when I am done! The temp is still down (i.e. 32 degrees) so only the die hard runners came out. Basically that told me that I was going to come in last place and have to push to keep the other 5 runners in sight. Sure enough after the warm up the pace is moving fast... two runners (still have not learned their names)... move out and are literally gone! Two other runners are about a block ahead but I get into a groove and keep them locked... and my buddy Keith is about 10 paces ahead of me although I can tell he is not pushing as hard as he can (he was out partying last night ;0 )
We started down town and they just come out of the building and start warming up down the street. My Garmin does not pick up until about what I would approximate to be about .5 miles into the run but for the warm up I fell great no issues. Even during this I can tell that everyone’s strides and comfort level is EASY... except me.
Ok into the run now... Mile #1 - 1 I clock a 7:43 pace... feeling good no issues. Giving it everything I have but still feeling good. Also mile 1 has some hills so that is a really good time for me! Ok mile #2 - 7:51 starting to feel winded but not too bad I can tell that I am pushing hard.. but feel like I don't need to quit. Mile #3 - 8:28 bottom line I am pushing it giving it EVERYTHING I have... weird I keep feeling like I am going to give out (i.e have to stop running and jog at best... walk worst case scenario); but somehow I keep finding energy to keep moving. Final stretch Mile #5 - 8:46 still giving it all I have and never stopped running. Note: running downtown there were a couple times I had to stop for traffic but today I caught a lot of lights and I believe only stopped 3 times for very short lights. My times include all stops (i.e. it kept running).
Today was a very good day... Keith commented on the fact that he could tell I was improving... and even better... before he made the comment I could tell! Nothing like results to keep you motivated!
Well if you are still reading two other great notes that make today outstanding!!
1. The job I thought I did not get.... well I received word that I am indeed going to get an offer! I did not find out until after my run.... otherwise I am sure I could have used that to cut some time off :-).
2. Does the name Ray Krolewicz ring a bell to anyone? Well long story short he was my Football Conditioning coach and Soccer coach in High School. I always knew he liked to run and thought I would look him up just to catch up. Well goodness.. I started googling him and literally found out that he is a freaking running LEGEND!! Anyway today before my run I spoke with Coach K - what we call him. That really made my day. I am going to forward my blog info. to him and hopefully will get a chance to run a race with him in the near future.
Note: http://www.ncctrackclub.com/articles/RayKrolewiczLEGEND.html
Have a great weekend everyone!!
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