Go, you chicken fat, go away!

First run of the year.  First run of my 40th year.  Gotta lose some serious weight this year.
 

Saturday I put my running clothes on and wore them all day without ever going for a run.  So this morning I put them back (without washing them) and went out and did the same three mile route I did on my last run.  The canal says it's not open for recreational use until March.  I hope that means for fishing.  I saw plenty of people running and riding bikes.  Maybe they have the same philosophy I do.  They have to catch me before they can prosecute me.  Did I just say cute me?  I probably shouldn't have that philosophy since I work for an irrigation district.  Anyway, runners are allowed to wear the same outfit again without washing it.  Right?  So today's run felt a lot better than last week's.  Faster pace, too.  When I was done my clothes smelled like wet dog.  But I think it has less to do with wearing it twice and more to do with the fact that I've had that particular pair of shorts since the beginning of time.

I just realized I ran less than three.  I thought it would be closer.  I took a slightly different route thinking the loop would get me to three.  Then I accidently stopped my GPS in the middle.  I couldn't go back, or I don't know how to go back, and look to see how much I'd gone.  Bummer.  I used to tell my friend that anything less than three was a waste of my time.  So I don't like that number up there.

Anyway, it was late.  Like 10:30pm.  I don't like running anymore when people can see me.  But today at church (I'm writing this entry the day after I ran) someone said they saw me.  Grrr!!  He actually lives right across the street from the park where the magic water fountain is located.  So, there's the canal, on the east side of that is the MWF, then east of that is the park.  The park is a big retention basin where the Latino population likes to play soccer on Sundays.  Did I offend anyone by saying Latino?  Anyway, it's about 20 feet deep.  I ran through it to cut to the MWF/canal.  It was freaking cold down there.  What the heck?  I'm glad my entire run wasn't that cold. 

Three unwasted miles.  36º may have been a little too cool for shorts and a T-shirt, but what are you gonna do?  I was watching my GPS so I could stop right at 3 miles.  It got to 2.97, 2.98, 2.99, then skipped right to 3.02.

Two days in a row. Whuuuuuttt???  My playlist started out kinda weak but ended on a high note with Ozzy's No More Tears.  Not literally a high note.

At first I was a little disappointed that I didn't get out earlier to run.  But I needed the rest.  I've been a tad under the weather lately.  And....it was a bit chilly.  So the warmer, the better.  And...I had the runs.  I thought I got it all out earlier.  But good thing I didn't leave the house before round two.

So I drove to Usery Pass.  I brought some Shot Bloks and some orange HEED.  I wasn't sure how many scoops to put in my water bottle, so I put two spoonfuls.  I started my ascent.  I also started wheezing.  Not too bad, though.  At mile 1.2 I pulled off behind a Palo Verde to make a wee wee.  I also stretched out and took a Shot Blok.  Right when I took off, a cyclist caught up to me.  He was riding on the other side of the road, but our paces were about the same.  I stayed with him for about a quarter mile.  (He was going super slow.)  I wondered if I'd be able to stay with him all the way to the top.  But he pulled away.  And I was left all alone.  At mile 2.6 I stopped again to blow my nose.  I stretched and took another Shot Blok.  I thought I had my GPS set to autopause when I stopped, but I guess not.  Anyway, it was at this point that I decided to only go 6 miles.  Typically I run to the top, or beyond, and it's a 7.3 mile run if I turn around at the top.  But since I haven't run more than 3 miles in forever, I didn't think it would be wise to try to more than double up what I'm used to.

I turned around a little after 3 miles and paused for one quick stretch.  Then I headed down at a stronger pace.  When I got to mile 4 I decided to accelerate the pace for a mile.  For the first time in forever I ran a mile in under a 9 min. pace.  Then I took it easy the last mile and cruised in.  My legs were tired, but my breathing was good.

I went out after dinner, which I hate doing, but I didn't eat a lot, so it was good.  I'm very excited to meet another blogger soon.  She hasn't blogged in over two years, though :(

I did not run today, but I did add another blogger to the List of Bloggers I've Met in Real Life.  Auntieem is in town to run the Coldwater Rumble 100 mile race this weekend.  Everyone wish her good luck.  She's been training hard.  We went to the Rainforest Cafe with my wife and my daughter, Emily.  Emily got some sensory overload with all the noises of the animals in the rainforest.  But Kelly loved her, and I'm glad she didn't kidnap her which I thought she might :)

I got up earlier than I usually do because I have a campout with the scouts this afternoon.  I thought it would be cold, so I put on sweat pants and a long sleeve tech.  Boy was I wrong.  I ran by the magic water fountain and there was a weirdo standing by it.  I'm pretty sure I freaked him out because he spun around real quick when I blasted by him with my music playing.  He probably just woke up from sleeping on the bench next to it.  Weirdo.
 

My first mile was a tad faster than what my normal pace has been lately, which made my remaining miles slower than my normal pace.  It seems there are quite a few bloggers coming in for the Phoenix Marathon this March.  I need to lose some weight before then because it's all about image.

Got to bed early last night, so I had no problem getting out of bed at 5am.  I got ready to go and headed out.  My Pandora playlist wasn't great.  I mean, I liked all the songs, but I really want to hear 80's hairbands while I'm running.  Some of the stuff this morning was a little too modern, like Blackened Blue Eyes by the Charlatans.  I kept thinking that it would get better because there are only so many 80's hair band songs without swears.  It finally did on the last song which was If You Don't Like it by Cinderella.

At precisely 5:47am I ran by a bus stop.  The bus stop is next to a Starbucks.  A lady was sitting down.  She had a coffee.  The smell was very strong.  She took a long sip.  I said, "Good morning."  She continued her sip and said, "Good morning."  I was nearly 50 feet away by then.

I considered this a recovery run, although really I was running the same pace I was yesterday.  But it was for a shorter distance, so that counts, right?

At precisely 6:01am I ran by the MWF and there was another weird guy sitting on the bench.  I don't know if it was the same guy as last time.  But I told him good morning.  He replied back with a good morning, but he didn't sound weird.  He sounded normal.  That's so weird.