Today was another one of the 5 miles with hills (ha!) run and I did the same course that I've run the past few Tuesdays. I was very tired this morning due to California (still!), so I decided to go later. It hasn't rained in weeks. *Weeks*! Plus it continues to be cooler. I can't help but think that these two things are related. Since there was no rain in the forecast, I figured I was safe and yes, there was no scary Florida weather. Somewhat pleasant, in fact, considering it was still in the 80s, but it was the low 80s with the sun setting.
It's getting dark early. Already by 7:30pm, the sun had set. Oh well, that will change in a few weeks with Daylight Savings...which I am not looking forward to, since I will have to get up even earlier to run!
The first half of today was not the most fun run I have ever done. I felt like I had done a long run one day, then sat on a cramped airplane the next day for an extended amount of time. Likely, this feeling stemmed from the fact that that is how I spent my Saturday and Sunday. There were definitely a lot of creaky, weird things to start. I was reminded of one of my favorite running books, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. It is a collection of random musings about running by someone who has been doing it for a quarter of a century (and writing novels when he isn't running). Also, he spends a lot of time running by the Charles River since he was in Cambridge when he wrote this book. It made me want to lace up my shoes and go straight back to Boston when I first read it -- I was in Florida at the time. Anyway, one of my favorite parts concerns an interview that Murakami does with Toshihiko Seko, an Olympic runner. Murakami asks if there are ever days when a runner 'at your level ever feel[s] like you'd rather not run today?' Seko looks at him as though he is insane and responds, 'Of course! All the time!' [I'm not citing from the actual book here, so I don't have the page number, but an excerpt was in the New Yorker and this was on 77 of the June 9 & 16, 2008 issue]. I had quite a bit of this today at the start of my run since I felt vaguely like I was trudging through mud or something. My legs were definitely not feeling it. However, once I settled into it, things went fine. Very well, in fact. The final two miles felt very good.
It's funny how 5 miles now seems easy. Back in August, these were my 'long runs,' after all. Not sure if longer distances, such as 10 miles, will ever feel like this. Here is hoping.
I was in the golf course neighborhood. Looks like Halloween decorations are going up slowly but surely. However, Stephanie and David's neighborhood still takes the cake. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten and there will be photos this week.
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