The Long Run

7.35 mi, 1:11:25, 9:43 avg

After what seemed like forever, I ran again this morning.  I can't believe it was only two days off, but it has been some time since more than one day off.

Ran with Jamie in the neighboorhood, starting at 8:00.  Legs were feeling stiff and tired at the start but by the end were just a little bit tired feeling.  Also, can't believe how warm it felt after being reminded what cold and snow feels like.

Nice to get that first run of the  year finally done.

11.75 mi, 1:51:48, 9:31 avg

Left my house just after 5:00 and met Joe by the back gate about 5:10 and waited a couple of minutes just in case Jamie showed up.  Then we continued on to Longleaf, stopped for the group picture and ran up Starkey Blvd another 3ish miles before heading back.  Stopped for coffee and another picture before heading back home.  

After getting back home, walked Stella on a "business" trip, and then ran her for about 1.5 miles.  She's gotten really good at not pulling on the leash when we run.  But, a little bit of pulling with the waist leash was kind of nice.

Joe and I were nearly run over twice.  The first time we were approaching the entrance to the self storage place where a guy with his big pickup truck pulling a trailer was waiting to pull out.  He had a passenger and the window was rolled down.  Joe made eye contact but apparently with just the passenger, we were both wearing lights (Joe was wearing two).  The traffic cleared just as we were in front of the truck and the driver started to pull out slowly (probably good thing there he was towing a trailer otherwise he might have pulled out faster).  Joe yelled and the driver stopped and yelled out a "sorry" as we continued on.

The early morning traffic consists of big groups of cars riding each other's bumpers followed by a period of empty street.  If I see a big gap I like to cross the road.  But, the right way to do it of course is at the intersection.  Unfortunately, crossing at the intersection is guaranteed to have cars stacked up in at least one direction.  We got to the Duck Slough and 54 light, waited for the walk signal, then started to cross.  Made it across the west bound lanes ok, then as we were covering the next set of lanes, I could see a car barelling down the right hand turn lane which was clear.  With all of the cars in the two through lanes she had no idea we were there.  As we approached I was telling Joe (loud enough to be heard above the traffic) "this car doesn't have a clue".  She saw us at the last second and had her window down and could hear me.   She hit the brakes and also heard me yelling "doesn't have a clue" and looked worried how close she came to running us over when she had the red light.  Cars have not been stopping first before turning right on red if they see that traffic the other way is held off - but not thinking about pedestrians, bicyclists, and older people on those electric scooters.  Following the law and crossing properly at the cross walk is not safe at this intersection.

9.01 mi, 1:24:41, 9:24 avg

Ran with Joe and Jamie in the neighborhood.  Decent weather and legs slowly feeling better.

10.12 mi, 1:33:07, 9:12 avg

Ran at Longleaf with the Striders starting at 5:30.  Stuck with Daisy today,  We ran out and back on Starkey Blvd and into Aristide neighborhood, then after a short break back at the parking lot, ran a loop through Longleaf.  It was chilly this morning, and although I was feeling run down when I first woke up the run went pretty well, until I got home and felt run down again so took about a 30 minute nap which seemed to help.