Running In Place

It feels so good to be coming down the other side of this bump in my training road. Physically I feel strong and mentally I feel reinvigorated. It’s kind of weird that the shin pain has just disappeared, and I don’t know that I trust that it won’t reappear as I increase my mileage over these remaining few weeks before July 10, but the time is getting near, and I seem to be getting better, and I am hopeful.

I had a great 7 mile run on Tuesday! It was the first time in slightly more than a month that I had run that distance. I hill-ed it up a little in the middle miles, I concentrated on keeping a steady, sustainable pace (11:50 avg.), and I finished strong with even a little kick for good measure. It was humid as all get-out but I strapped on a water-bottle-belt-thingy and drank a little at each mile. It was also made manageable by overcast skies and a very good breeze. I actually forgot to put on my shin wrap and - I almost hate to say it “out loud” - there was no pain at all. Good stuff!

Development Runs

I have attended a couple of these, put on by the Utica running club. There is a 2 mile hill run and a 10K that, I’ve been told, is a very good preparatory run for the Boilermaker because it is so challenging. If you come early, you get to watch the various kid runs which of course is always cool. I have been doing the 2 mile run, of which about 3/4 mile is up a non-stop, big ass hill. In fact it’s a hill I’ll be running down in the Boilermaker.

In a couple of weeks I’m going to endeavor the 10K!!

Today looks like 4 miles in the rain and blessed cool (67F)

Lastly, this is the picture I meant to post from the Relay for Life procession

Not that it’s any less blurry with the lack of ambient light but I just think it gives a better sense of the moment. The row of lights are thousands of bags, one next to the other. Each with a candle, each with someone’s name. I wish I could have done better justice to capturing the moment.