Progression run - 8 miles easy except last 10 minutes moderate. Average pace: 10:16.
Split times for miles 1-7 range from 10:12 through 10:56. Mile 8 - 8:42.
Weather at 5:50 am: 37°F, 53% humidity, winds 6.6 mph SSE.
I was a stupid idiot and could have gotten myself killed this morning. There are three places on the route I ran today where I have to cross a busy street, each time at a light that has a walk signal. I stopped at the first one and hit the button for the walk signal, took a drink and then looked around and not could see any cars in either direction, so I headed across the street against the light. About halfway across the street, I saw a car crest a hill to my right (I hadn't noticed the small hill in the dark) and speed towards me. I poured on the speed and ran the rest of the way across the street (the street is about 8 lanes wide) as fast as I could and avoided getting hit.
I was berating myself for being stupid and vowed never to cross against the light again and then I got to the second place where I needed to cross a busy street (not quite as big or busy as the first one). When I arrived at the intersection, the light was green in the direction I was going. Not wanting to stop, I started across the road. I hadn't gotten very far across the street when the light turned yellow and it was red before I got to the other side. To my good fortune, the car that was in a position to hit me was stopped waiting for the light, saw me crossing in front of him, and waited for me.
Lesson finally learned, I waited for the walk signal at the third crossing (which was the same street I had crossed on the first crossing, but at a different point).
I think I'm going to have to run really early tomorrow morning because I've got a conference call for work from 7 to 8 (I hope it doesn't go the whole hour), and I've got to get my son to school at 8:00 for Math Olympians and go to Donuts with Dad (though I'm neither Dad nor should I eat a donut) with my daughter at the same school at 8:00. I'll need to have the run done and be all dressed and ready to go by 7:00. I better be running by 5:00. | 