44F, rain showers, variable light wind. Objective: endurance run w/ progression, and club run w/ no one. Six miles slow jog, 6 moderate, 5 fairly hard (starting with 2 miles on the Leg Builder Hill and just a bit slower than marathon pace for the rest, with a couple of short walk breaks), 1 mile cool down. Again, it was hello / good-bye at the running club. Just a bunch of fast guys and Sean's sister (also very fast), and little lonesome me. I watched them become tiny little neon-green dots in the distance on the straight, forested,Snoq. Valley Trail (SVT). After a couple of miles the dots got larger, and after they passed me I turned around too and watched them disappear again. This actually turned out to be a very good way to run a little on the SVT without being completely alone, safety wise. I added some meandering through the streets of old Snoqualmie to bring me to the end of mile 12, where I started the hard miles and attacked the Parkway hill (Leg Builder). During my entire run, I was dreading this last part and feeling like there was no way I had the energy for it today. But it turned out to be fine and I felt very strong. Woo and hoo. The wildlife count was particularly high today. I always count it privately, but it's rarely blog-worthy. Today I saw 2 deer, 2 rabbits, a hawk, and a large herd of 40-50 elk in the meadow adjacent to the SVT. I tried to snap a picture with my phone but it was still too dark. I thought the club would be full of new people today. But I guess rain, darkness, and warm blankets trump New Year's Resolutions. Just a block from finishing up, I encountered 2 sisters who used to come to the club, really nice women. They promised to try for next week. Not that I really need people to run with, but it seems pointless to go out of my way being there every week and then run alone. I hope you all had a great holiday! | 