run, run, run

Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada 9:15 pm

Pace: 7:23

This run almost didn't happen. I traveled all day and didn't get to the hotel until after 8:30. So, dark was approaching and it was foggy (Happy 4th of July!). So I put on my running gear along with a headlamp and pepper spray. I know pepper spray won't stop a moose, but it made me feel better.

The run was good even though the weather wasn't. It was so wet, I could see the mist in the beam of my headlamp and I ended up soaking wet. Also, the only way I could really tell whether I was running uphill or downhill was by looking at my watch and seeing how fast I was running.

Saint John, NB, Canada 7:30 pm

Pace: 7:50

Not a great run. I mapped out a 10 mile loop, but forgot to check the mileage at the first turn. When I got to the road, it said "Authorized Vehicles Only," so I thought that it must not be it. So I kept running. When I got to 6.4 miles I knew I had missed the turn. But I was at a really cool bridge. It was very high and below was a stream heading out to the ocean. It had boats on the ground next to it waiting for high tide. One boat was far from shore and looked like it has been there for decades. So that was cool. The run back wasn't.

I was having some back pain last week after shoveling those rocks. It had gone away until this afternoon. Now, after this run, it's worse.

Saint John, NB 7pm

Pace: 7:03

I went down to the Irving Nature Park to do a short run. I decided that the cause of my back pain lately has to be the stupid bed at the hotel. I took yesterday off and think I'll sleep on the couch tonight.

I got a late start because of a meeting, but I wanted to get one lap around the park in today. I ran pretty hard and felt good. The back only seems to hurt when I'm not running. I saw a fox, a porcupine looking thing and a huge dog. Good thing the dog was attached to it's owner.

 I felt a little hypocritical because the main reason I ran faster today is because I wanted to finish before the hamburger shop closes.

Been dealing with back pain, time zones and lousy eating lately, so I didn't go into this race feeling very confident. I was pretty sure I could PR, since my previous best was Robie, which goes uphill for 8 miles. I really wanted to get in under 1:30:00, but wasn't sure I could.

I held my pace pretty well over the whole race. My fastest mile was the firt at 6:38 and my slowest was 10 and 12 ate 6:55. The race is an out and back, so I was able to count the people ahead of me. I was in 9th at the turn-around and after about 8 miles I glanced back and didn't see anyone behind me, so I expected to finish in that place. Then at mile 10 the guy directly in front of me (the only one I could still see at that point) took a quick right across the grass towards the bathroom in a park. I felt bad for the guy, but wasn't going to wait for him, so I was in 8th. Then, after passing a bunch of 10kers, with about 1 mile left I passed a guy who looked like he was in the half marathon. So I finished in 7th place with a 10 minute PR and a little medal for second place in my age group.