Running Fool

I've been aiming to run three days a week, and lately, that's been going very well. I find I can make time to run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before work, and get one weekend run in. If I miss a weekday, I can make it up on the weekend, as well.

On Thursday, I had a day off from school due to midterms. Anticipating my weekend run being shorter than usual (yesterday's Shamrock'n 5K), I set out for my long run that morning, and got five good miles. No walking, no running. Go me!

Yesterday's race went well. My official time was 32:30, and while I felt some of that familiar nausea in the last mile, I didn't stop, walk, or get sick. I did, however, talk to myself a couple of times. Well, more of an under-the-breath muttering. "You've. Got. This." and the like.

Actually, with all these four- and five-mile runs of late, a 5K is downright easy. It felt like a short run.

Having run yesterday, no one would have blamed me for taking a rest today. I am supposed to take one rest day every week, with all of this running and my gym time. But I ate a huge meal last night at the school band's crab feed, and I felt good this morning. It's a beautiful day here--sunny, clear, spring-tastic. I really wanted to run...and Meg wanting to run is a rare thing.

Thing is, I needed to run to the grocery store for some spinach and fruit, and I wanted to be home in time to watch NASCAR. What to do?

Inspiration struck. I mapped out the route to Raley's on Daily Mile, and found it's just under three-and-a-half miles. I can run three-and-a-half miles. It was almost entirely residential, except the last half mile along a major road (on a sidewalk). It involved one major road-crossing, at a light with a crosswalk. The only problem? Three-and-a-half miles back. I normally walk a mile-and-a-half back after a run.

So I asked Dad if he'd pick me up, and he agreed. Armed with my phone, drivers license, and debit card all tucked in my little waist pouch, I laced up the Mizunos and set off for a slow run through this gorgeous morning.

Sometimes, I can't believe myself.