Believe to Achieve

Left my house at 6:04.  Still dark but ran an out and back course knowing the light would appear soon.  Growling dogs on Canyon Rd.  freaked me briefly and then some guys tried to pass me (although they were on the "inside track" or the curve in the road on the inside and I was on the opposite side running longer), but I didn't let them have that glory.  I was doing about a 8:45 pace then and ended up with a 8:08 for that mile from picking it up.  Well that pumped me for the rest of my run so I just cruised through my hilly route and over to Lindon on their running trail there until I hit 5 miles and turned around and since I was running better than yesterday and a lot less sore I decided I had time to fit in one more mile so I turned right up another hill in Lindon for another 1/2 mile and turned around and headed home.  The cool air was refreshing and it was fun to watch the world come alive in just one hour on the roads.  It is dangerous at early hours when cars get on the street (more so then my 5am runs) because people don't expect runners but they sure expect a text or phone call.  A lot of swerving noted on the roads.  I just keep myself aware of EVERY driver in my vicinity and don't take chances they ever truly see me unless I wave my arm and hands at them to "connect" with the driver when necessary.  AP for 11 miles with two 10 second stops = 7:53.  Last .18 miles I was at about a 7:03 pace and I thought "let's get this down to marathon pace before it hits 11 miles" and in that short period of time I kicked it in gear and got that mile to be a 6:51 (I hit my pace to a 5:37  UPHILL  : D, legs feeling VERY strong as well as my arm swing to the back).  Good sign all is coming back after Saturday's race.  I have skills day today at work and also have to work the next two days so going easy.  If I had tomorrow off I would run speed work but that is hard in the dark so I will just do some pick ups.  A short long run on Saturday should be happening (17 miles, A VACATION for me ; D).