I intentionally slept in this morning to get a little more sleep. Even though I left a little later than usual, it still seemed a little cooler. It was also a little lighter. It was a beautiful morning for a run. I ran down into Orem. As usual, there was a bit of a tail wind as I went south, which meant a bit of a head wind as I came back north. I ran 6.4 miles in 49:16 (7:42/mi). Mile splits were 8:34, 7:01, 7:49, 7:56, 7:43, 7:15, and 0.4 mi in 2:58 (7:22/mi). This is faster than I normally run this course. I credit it to having watched "Chariots of Fire" last night. I ran my first two marathons, and my only sub-3 hour marathon, back in 1982, the year after this movie came out and won an Oscar for Best Picture in 1981. I ran many miles with the Theme from Chariots of Fire pulsing through my head. It is still my favorite running song. It was going through my head throughout my entire run this morning. I've also been reading a book, based on a true story, called "Marathon", by W. William Winokur, that was published in January 2006. From http://www.helleniccomserve.com/bookmarathon.html :
"From the concrete canyons of lower Manhattan to the ruins of Ancient Greece, Marathon is a tour de force by a new voice in American fiction. In this impressive, multi-layered debut, based on a true story, W. William Winokur takes the reader on a journey that is at once historical, philosophical and spiritual in order to learn exactly what gives a life meaning. ... Framed by the story of Pheidippides’ celebrated run from Marathon to Athens, the novel is steeped in mythology and mystery. Winokur ponders the essential questions of life and death, the intersection of past and present, the struggle of duty versus passion, all while exploring one woman’s discovery of herself through ancient myths, lost journals, impossible loves, and timeless souls. ... Marathon is a richly imagined work that sets the conflict and intrigue of the ancient world against the reality of contemporary life. Compelling, thought provoking, and thoroughly engaging, Marathon is a powerful statement about the choices we make in life, and how to create a life worth living."
I'm only about halfway through it, but I'm finding it hard to put down. In fact, I slept in this morning because I was up so late reading it last night. If I stop blogging, maybe I can squeeze in a few chapters before I go to work. I went to run with Nathan at lunch time today but I was late and he had already left. I went ahead and ran the Eagles View course alone. It was warm, but not as hot as it has been. I kept expecting to see Nathan on his way back but never did. I saw him in the fitness center after the run and he had taken a different course and gone a little longer than normal. I ran the normal 5 miles in 39:57 (7:59/mi). Not my fastest run, but on that run I feel good about anything under 40:00. | 