faster with age

     I ran 13 miles this morning in a lot of wind and rain. It was about 45 deg and no rain or wind when I started. About a mile in the wind got stronger. It was at my back so I knew I would be fighting it all the way back. Then I started getting hit with some on and off showers. It wasn't too bad on the way out but by the time I turned back the wind had gotten even stronger and of course it started raining harder too. It wasn't fun running into a 20 mph headwind getting pelted with rain. The rain let up after a couple of miles but not the wind. I had 4 1/2 miles coming back directly into the wind and I got above 9:00 pace on some of those. We have sure had more wind and rain this spring than I can remember. A lot of years we can started cutting alfalfa by memorial day but this year it's not even close because of the cool weather. 8:19 AP

     8 miles this morning at a nice easy pace. The temp was about 50 deg with no wind. Can't ask for better than that. We are supposed to hit 70 today and it's probably going to get hot real soon. It may be one of the last days like this before summer. 9:06 AP

     Another 8.5 miles today at an easy pace. I ran a little later today and the temp was in the lower 70s. It always seems to feel a lot warmer than that the first few times of the summer. I had about a 15 mph headwind that came up the last couple of miles and was very welcome. The mud had dried enough that I was able to run up to the reservoir. I don't know how many killdeers I saw running along just in front of me trying to make me think I was about to catch them as they led me away from their nests. 8:43 AP

     Ran 8 miles today. First 4 miles progression from 8:18 to 7:37 then went into some fartlek running 1/2 mile fast then 1/2 slow 3 times. The first 2 were into a quartering 15 mph crosswind headwind and I ran them in 3:03 and 3:00. The 3rd one I had turned a corner so the wind was more of a crosswind tailwind but it was uphill and I hit 3:07 on that one. They were all 3 a pretty hard effort. Last mile in 7:30. 7:33 AP overall.

     I didn't get out until about 20 minutes after sundown for this run so it got pretty dark on the way back. The temp was at 50 deg and it was dead calm. It was a very nice run. I just kept the pace comfortable and it was so peaceful out. 7 miles at 7:30/mile AP

     Got out late again tonight about 1/2 hour after sundown for 8.5 miles. Another perfect evening with temps in the mid 50s, calm, and peaceful. I didn't plan on pushing the pace at all again just keeping it comfortable. It was completely dark after 4 miles so I never really looked at my garmin. Just ran what felt good. My first couple of miles were in the 8:20s but after that my pace was from 15 to 20 seconds faster with each mile. miles 6,7,and 8 were 7:24, 6:58, 6:42. I was wearing my New Balance 101s. A very minimal trail shoe without much heel rise and fairly light. I've been running in these once a week and always seem to run a little faster in them. Last 1/2 mile was on a dirt road with a few potholes so I ran it slow since it was dark. 8 miles @ 7:44/mile