They all can't be "easy" runs.

am: 3.5 miles. 26:33. 7:35 pace. hood route.

Then church, sign up for 8k next weekend, lunch.

pm: At school track with the boys.

1 mile 7:48 warm up. 3 minutes rest.

1/2 mile 2:58, 3 minutes rest.

1/2 mile 3:01, 3 minutes rest.

1/2 mile 2:59, 3 minutes rest.

1/2 mile 3:01, 3 minutes rest.

1 mile 7:05 cool down.  

I think I might have sabotaged this run with a big lunch. Also, it is pushing 80 degrees here. I'm glad I got some speed work in before next weekend. This is a little confidence booster. I should be able to break 33 minutes for the 8k, I think.

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 35:20. 7:41 pace.

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 35:09. 7:38 pace. Crowded and Windy.

What is it about race week that makes me feel like screaming "EVERYTHING'S MESSED UP!"? Nothing felt right on this run. The week before every race I have run, this hyper analysis kicks in. "What is that weird feeling in my footcalvesshinskneesthighsbackneck? OH NO! This can't happen! Not THIS week! Why are all of these people staring at me running? Oh yeah, like YOU have never run while crying! Go back to your shanties!"

I might be over-dramatizing this, but you get the idea. 

Not running related, but this has been bothering me for a while. Every Thursday, on the sidewalk in front of my office, is an empty wheelchair, locked to a handicap parking sign. This is not a motorized or specialized wheelchair, it is completely average. Every week, I get caught up in trying to find plausible explanations for this. It just doesn't make sense. 

4.6 miles. Ringling Bridge. 33:06. 7:12 pace. Less Windy. Legs feel better. I had a slight cramp on my left side, though. 

Cool morning, by my standards @ 50 degrees. 2 mile warm up. At race start, and for the first mile, I was comfortably in 2nd place. At the 1 mile mark, I was passed by the guy that held the 2nd spot for the rest of the race. He was about 50 yards ahead of me until @ the 3 mile mark. Then I kind of lost him through the turns. So, for a race this short, there were long stretches of running by myself. @ 3.5 miles, a guy was setting up a water station. At this point, I didn't know if the runners were to stay on the walk, or go on the road. I yelled to him, to ask. He said "go left,..... NO RIGHT!" By then, I had already gone @ 20 yards to the left. So, I had to hop one of those rope-bollard fences to get back on track. Not a big deal, but it definitely affected my run. Especially since the next part of the course was sandy. I was passed by a guy with 1/4 mile to go, and then I really let off of the gas. Could I have got under 32 minutes? I dunno. My watch said 32:11, which is @ 6:28 pace. I don't know my official time yet. That will show up here later: http://www.zoomersrun.com/2013_Race_Results.html

Despite the wrong turn, I am pleased with this outcome. Great green eggs with the family after. And sister in law's first race! She ran the whole thing. I ran back and did the last mile with her. Good job Shannon!