Every Race is an Adventure!

With the kids out of school for spring break, I slept in this morning and ended up going out about 7:30am. The batteries in my Garmin were low so I just wore the Timex Ironman I wear around all day. I ran a known 4 mile course so I could calculate the pace after I finished. I ran it in 39:35, 9:54/mi.

I'm pleased. A sub-10:00 pace is fast for me these days. I was working pretty hard. With about a mile to go I was breathing so hard I started making noises like A, E, O every 3 steps with catch up breathing in between. It morphed into the following pattern that I repeated in my head, or maybe under my breath, for the last mile:

A-2-3  E-2-3  I-2-3  O-2-3  U-2-3  1-2-3  2-2-3  3-2-3

Throwing in a sometimes Y, and sometimes an extra 1-2-3, broke up the monotony and switched which foot I was starting on while still maintaining the rhythm. It was encouraging to feel the urge to work hard again, and be able to.

I should mention the weather. It was sunny and beautiful and about 50 degrees. Perfect. 

2 miles @ 10:39/mi. My ankle is still bothering me some. I know I can't do a full run everyday, but I want to take what my body will give me and do a little more at a time. Today was mostly a get out of bed, get dressed, and get out there running day. I gradually need to get my body adjusted back to my old routine. I really let myself go during this winter of my discontent. I've got a deep hole to climb out of. At least I'm headed in the right direction...knock on wood.

I met Larry after his walk with Kent and we went for an easy pace run, 4 miles @ 11:25/mi. I guess the upside of running so slowly is that we did it for a longer period of time.

It was great to run with Wayne, Larry, and Jolene this morning. I ran 6.15 miles @ 10:31/mi. Wayne and Jolene ran ahead and back a few times while Larry and I just tried to hang on.

Surprisingly, my back bothered me more than anything else this morning. My back used to sometimes hurt me in later miles on long runs, but not on a 6 mile run. My daughter asked me to help her serve at Habitat For Humanity this afternoon. I'm looking forward to it. I hope my back holds out.

I read again recently about the battle between Zerahemnah and Captain Moroni. Here are a few verses rewritten as I thought of them this morning while running (link to real verses is below):

 48 And it came to pass that when Paul saw the weakness and frailties of old age, he was about to shrink and flee from them. But when he perceived their intent, he inspired his heart with these thoughts—yea, the thoughts of his physical health, his mental well being, yea, his freedom from inactivity and poor health.

 49 And it came to pass that he determined to fight old age, and cried unto the Lord his God, for his fitness and his freedom from injury.

 50 And he began to stand against old age with power; and in that selfsame running season that he cried unto the Lord for his freedom, the effects of old age began to flee before him.

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/43.48-50?lang=eng#47

 Okay, it's a little contrived, but it encouraged me to continue to reverse the retreat and pursue the counter-attack with courage and determination.