Go, you chicken fat, go away!

This morning I saw double stroller lady.  She was actually running the same direction as I was.  When I caught up to her I thought for sure she had seen my shadow or heard my footsteps, but when I said good morning, she jumped a little.  I apologized and asked her if she was training for anything.  Nope.  Just trying to stay in shape?  Yep.  Well, good, have fun.  Then I continued on around my WalMart loop.  As I was coming back down Rittenhouse I thought I saw her again.  I figured she cut through Ocotillo, which would surprise me that she would be brave enough to run by the ogling day laborers at Circle K (at least I imagine that they would sit there and whistle at any woman running by.)  It turns out it wasn't her.  It was an Asian man, and it took me about a mile to run him down.  This time I hollered before I got to him so he would know I was coming up.  Good morning.  Good morning.  Training for anything.  Nope, just trying to stay in shape.  That's good.  You?  I have a couple of races I want to do.  Rock n' Roll?  No.  My wife wants to do the Rock n' Roll.  Full marathon?  Half, I told her she is going to have to do it by herself.  You can do it.  I don't think I can find time to train.  Good luck.  And I was off again.  Nice run this morning.

Time - 43:54 (avg. pace 8:12)

Splits -  8:12, 8:15, 8:19, 8:15, 8:05, (8:10 avg. for 0.34)

I saw two hummingbirds today. One of them flew directly towards my face and I thought it was going to peck my eyes out. I named them Nan and Lyns because hummingbirds are so small yet flap their wings faster than any other bird. I also saw two Eric Day lagartos.

There was a school bus parked on the side of the road this morning.  One girl had her head poked out the window in the back of the bus and was waving at another girl with her head poked out of the window at the front of the bus.  As I came up to the bus the girl in the back turned around and saw me.  I waved at her and she slowly ducked back into the bus like a meerkat.

I tried to go out a little faster today than yesterday to see how long I could hold the faster pace.  The first couple of miles were in the 7:45 range, but the 4th mile was 8:15.  While this compares to yesterday's pace, it was a 30 seconds slower than my first two miles today.  Yesterday all my mile times were real close together.  Lesson learned : nothing.

Time - 42:25 (7:55 pace)

Splits - 7:46, 7:43, 7:58, 8:15, 8:00, (7:32 pace for 0.36 miles)

Temp - 84

Even though I went a lot slower and less distance today, I think I sweated more than ever.  I saw a couple of lizards, but the highlight of the morning was the baby gecko we caught in the house.  I was going to feed it to one of our snakes, but I didn't have the heart.  I let it go outside.

Time - 28:40 (avg. pace 8:22)

Splits - 8:33, 8:22, 8:17, (8:12 for 0.42 miles)

Temp - 82

The school bus was out this morning, but all the windows were rolled up.  A lady with a dog came running out from a side road.  I didn't want her to pass me, but didn't really make an effort so that she wouldn't.  My miles were pretty consistent this morning.  They didn't pass me.

Time - 44:40 (avg. pace 8:22)

Splits - 8:21, 8:16, 8:16, 8:21, 8:35, (8:22 for 0.34 miles)

Temp - 86

People who drive at night are mean.  We had a nice little thunder storm this morning.  So I slept in.  By the time it cleared up my wife was out running her errands.  So I had to wait 'til after dinner to go running.  Usually I wimp out.  But I couldn't have another week with less than 20 miles.  So I started running shortly after 10pm.  I still don't know who won the ASU/Idaho game.  I'll have to check on that.  I now remember why I don't like to run in the evenings.  Dinner did not sit well.  So I plugged along (trying not to enter the puke zone) to see how many miles I could get before midnight.  I did my neighborhood loop twice and my WalMart loop once.  I had two people sneak up and honk at me and one vehicle of girls holler at me.

Time - 1:45:11 (avg pace 9:16)

Splits - 8:28, 9:20, 9:04, 9:12, 9:29, 9:32, 9:24, 9:12, 9:13, 9:30, 9:33, (9:30 avg. for 0.34)

Temp - 73

Note - I checked the score.  ASU completely thrashed Idaho State.  It's almost too embarrassing to mention.  And blueberry pomegranate Gatorade is the best.