Seeking a better country...

8 am.  First day of school run.  Lots of kids walking with parents for flag ceremonies and other first day festivities.  'Twas much cooler, temps in the low 60s.  Jack came with.  We took a dirt stretch from 400 W to Main, and saw a couple horses.  One was friendly and came right up to the fence to be touched.  When he stopped, he spit all over Jack. Oops.  

6 am.  Eventful tempo Tuesday with Andy and Tara.  My gut was not right; Tara suffered a similar malady.  After an extended warmup, we did manage three faster miles; 7:15, 6:55 and 6:30ish.

I'm still trying to be recognized as employee of the month.  I made it to work by 9:45.  I love walking into the building when everyone is in the middle of a production meeting.  At least I brought fresh peaches to share.

7:30 am  Even three hours later I struggle to remember what shoes I wore.  I haven't run in crocs for a while.  Maybe that's the problem.  Perhaps I need some new shoes.  Scratch that.  Definitely I need some new shoes so I have some ready to go for the marathon in a month.

If you want to see what a plateau looks like, visit my blog as a weekly graph view.

8 am.  Skipping work to run...my son dropped me off on Island View and I took the shoreline trail over to the Farmington Road, then back to Freedom Hills and home on the road.  I got in a couple faster miles toward the finish.  

Afterward I spent the whole day sorting out 2 yards, planting trees, landscaping, sod laying, etc.  My back is sore.

6:30 am  Very good run on the course this morning with Angie and Jasmine.  We backtracked the marathon course 20 miles, and finished the race.  Overall pace was 7:10, which was extremely easy on the downhill, challenging on the flat final 6 miles.  We held, and even dropped pace on the flats, finishing up with 3 sub-7 miles.  Temps were great, the scenery was wonderful, with trees beginning to change, birds aloft, and a rising sun.  I slept the night before at Anderson cove, under the stars, enjoying the view on a moonless night.  Even without my glasses I could make out several constellations.

I feel encouraged by the outcome of this run.  I figured the girls would drop me like a bad habit, but we stuck together and got it done.  I've been doing some year to year comparison, and my mileage this year is comprable to last.  I don't have a single switchback to my name, but have banked 7 tempo tuesdays.  With a taper, better sleep, and cooler conditions on marathon day...well, who knows?  At least my pacing should be better this year.