Runnin Bubbas

Lunch:  Here in the great Historical City of Philadelphia.   I love History.  So I decided during my lunch break here at a marketing conference to go for a sight seeing run around the city.  Don't have time to post all the photos I took but I took a lot(around 50) during the hour and a half I strolled through this old city.  I ran along Ben Franklin Pkwy which takes you by Municipal Services Building and Love Park.  As you head up the Pkwy you run a long all the private museums that line this road until you reach the famous City Art Museum.  The Rocky Balboa Statue used to reside at the top of the steps but they took it off the top and put it over the side, still a rad bucket list thing to do.  I ran the steps of course.  The movie makes you think there are 1000 steps to climb, not that many but just a few more than the Cottonwood 5k Mike and I ran earlier this year :)  Ran to the old Boat Harbor and garndens then across an old HWY76 Brdige across the Schuylkill River turned around and came back down the Pkwy and headed to the Historical Side of the City.  I ran through Reading Terminal, very cool place and look forward to eating there tonight. Ran along Market Street until I reached Independence Hall.  Took some pictures of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, The Constitution Museum.  All just personal favorites of History for me.  This was too surreal.  I then headed over to see such sites as the Betsy Ross House, Corn Exchange and Trust(A real bank) and Elfreth's Alley(Oldest Residence Street in America).  From here I headed over the Ben Franklin Bridge into Camden, New Jersey.  This was a a cool little Out and Back which crossed the Delaware River.  Crossed two rivers in one run, Rad.  Got some cool pics on the Bridge.  Always cool when you can run over a cool Bridge and not die.  I then headed back down Bread Street and to Market and ended my run going through City Hall.  My hotel is right next door to City Hall.  

Very enjoyable what we runners would call a "leisure stroll through the city". A perfect recovery run.  I really enjoyed every minute of this run.  For a History nerd I could not ask for a better scenario.  Fun easy miles... 

PM:  Met up with Riley, Ben V. and Bryant at the Hotel.  Great trip up to Logan.  These guys are good dudes.  Ben V. and I went out on a little stroll.  I eased into a little progressive run.  I felt very refreshed after taking 3 days off.  Finished the last mile at 6 min/ap.  My right leg is still bad.  Doesn't look good for TOU.  Ben V. looked great and ready to go.

TOU Half.

Very fun time in Logan despite the injury.  Always fun to be in a race atmosphere.  It was game on for so many.  I did a warm up with Ben V., Bryant, and Riley.  Ben and I went a little further.  I did about 3.5 total with strides.  My right leg was still not loose and relaxed.  I just felt I would go out and conservatively and see where I was.  I hit the first mile in 6:03 behind Sariah and Devra.  Really cool scenery through Blacksmith Fork Canyon.  I backed off to 6:25 pace the 2nd mile.  I knew I was in for a long run when I didn't feel any encouragement to pick it up and my leg was now very tight.  I thought the night run and extra warm up would help but it did not.  At mile 5 I really slowed down to like 8 min pace and for about 45 seconds had to make the thought of "Am I going to even run this thing in?"  I decided when about 3 women that were rec runners passed me that this was enough motivation to just try and run MP the rest of the way and get in a training run.  Who knows?  I feel all over the board.  At mile 9 I felt a lot better.  Still felt hurt but managed to feel faster.  In fact my last 3 miles were my fastest.  Finished with a 5:55 last mile just because I wanted to be done.  It said I cam in 34th overall and 3rd in my AG.  That's pretty funny for a leisurely stroll to Providence.  I never at any point felt fast at all.  It was a very humbling run.  Very glad today was not a marathon.  Today felt like SGHM all over again.  I know I am in shape to go fast and do some damage but I will have to live and learn through this injury.  Not fun.  Glad everyone had a good time.  I did a very slow 2 mile CD pretty much by myself as a half mile into the group I felt like throwing up and really tight.  So be it.  Moving forward...