Every Race is an Adventure!

I ran the Lindon loop solo this morning. Just after the midway point, as I headed back toward Lindon Park, I heard large dog tags running behind me. I often run with Ozzie and Dash, and I thought maybe Kevin had started late and was catching up to me with Dash, but it didn't sound like them. I decided to try to ignore the clinking dog tags and, similar to when I hear footsteps in a race, just keep focused on moving forward. When racing I consider looking back a sign of weakness. I wasn't really afraid, but I averaged about a 9:00 min pace for the whole run and about 8:00 min pace for that stretch, so I must have been a little nervous. A medium-sized, and quite friendly looking, dog eventually passed me and then visited a nearby tree. It ran ahead of me for a bit but then I heard a voice behind me calling his dog. There was a busy street ahead so I stopped so the dog wouldn't cross. I guess it was the other runner's turn around point, because before he got close enough in the darkness for me to see him clearly, he called his dog to him and headed the other way. More important than the dog not attacking me, his owner didn't catch and pass me.

I did eventually cross paths with Kevin and Dash a couple of blocks before I finished as they were just heading out.

I was a little surprised to find myself alone at the corner this morning. Out of Larry, Wayne, Kent and Kevin I figured at least one of them would be out on a Tuesday. I headed out solo on the 2000 N hill loop. I'd only gone a couple of blocks when I was hailed by Tim Hakala. He's been running with Nick and Daniel (real early birds, they get done before we start at 5:45am). He was only planning on about 4 miles so I (willingly) cut out the mile up and down the steep hill and we just did the 4 mile loop. He's under some stress at work and figured the run would help. I asked about the company he started up not long ago and he did most of the talking. I didn't mind. It was interesting to me and it seemed to help him to talk about it (at least I hope it did). I dropped him at his house and went another 1.5 miles. I'm glad there are people, like Tim, that are really smart and are willing to take risks and create new products and new businesses. They allow people like me to have jobs.

Solo run on the Orem library route. 8:44/mi average pace. I had some deep thoughts about running to stay ahead of my mortality and keeping old age at bay. I should have written them down then. It's now 5 days later and my memory doesn't last that long anymore.

Yet another solo run, this time on the Cascade route. We often cross paths with Mike Jasper on this route, but no such luck this morning. I would have been happy to alter my route and run with him. Another day, another run. Just trying to maintain a good base and endure the winter. Average pace 9:23/mi.

Kevin said he was going to run, and I knew his family was out of town, so when we wasn't out I knocked on his door and waited for him to get ready. I got nearly a mile in running up and down the street in front of his house while waiting. It was worth the wait to have some companionship on a run again. We ran a modified Tuesday route, cutting out the 2nd half of the big hill to fit the route in the time we had. Average pace 8:59/mi.

Wayne, Kevin and I ran up to the bridge in Provo Canyon that marks the 5 mile turn around point from our neighborhood starting point. Wayne and I were pretty tired by the end, but Kevin seemed pretty fresh. We only averaged 9:08/mi. The first two miles were pretty slow and we had some 8:30-ish miles in the middle and near the end. I still don't understand how I can average 7:25/mi for the Painter's 1/2 marathon and then have 9:00/mi, sometimes 9:30/mi or slower, seem so hard.on these cold winter morning runs.

Well, I got another 40 mile week in. The PF isn't gone, but it isn't worse and seems to be getting better. I hope to just follow this pattern until warmer weather arrives, when I plan to step my training up a bit.