We didn't leave until 7:00 but the morning was fresh along the trail. I was surprized it was such a beautiful morning; pristine skies, cool air, river high. There was still some dust left over from the winds yesterday and the lake was all churned up from the run-off, but still. It was steeple chase morning. Days after big wind there are millions of tree branches that line the trail you have to avoid or jump over. If the trail had been clear, I might have put reins on Catherine and brought my rollerblades. She's running with such grace and ease. I need to get her running with some real runners, but she's shy. I enjoy our runs so much, but I'm just not running like I have in years past. It makes me feel bad to be holding her back. She's only 26 and has so much room for improvement. She's been on her treadmill running 7:30's for like half an hour at a time. It's not in me to not try and encourage her to do her best. Today, it took me real effort to maintain a 8:59 pace for the whole distance. I don't know what to think. That used to be my easy pace. If I run more miles and train more, speed picks up naturally, but then I'm at higher risk for injury/re-injury. If I run slower, I lose some running friends (if not lose them, slow them down and become their charity partner). I just don't know why it's so different this year. But I have to take the taper more seriously this time around, and I'm not going to push next Saturday other than to make an honest effort. I am looking forward to it--although that loopy-loop at the end is making me crazy to think about. By the time I hit 23 I become violently exhausted and angry about it. I have not yet been able to refocus that energy inward. Considering this, I just do not want to run a mile loop before the finish line. What a crappy ending. I've got to mentally prepare for that one.
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