My Day

Daaaadddyyy!

That's what I hear everyday when I walk in the door. It's always followed by the sound of little footsteps running as fast as they can down the hall. Then this little munchkin jumps into the air without reservation knowing that I'll catch him. It's getting harder and harder but I'm still able to pluck him out of the air and give him a big bear hug.

This is how I'm greeted everyday when I get home from work. Not a bad life, not a bad life at all.

My running life is beginning to show signs of a rebound. I've put in some good miles since the Ft. Collins marathon and I'm beginning to get a good pace back. I took the week off following the marathon and returned to running last Saturday with a nice 6 mile run. We ran at just above 8 minute pace and it felt really comfortable, just like it used to last fall. I followed this up with a good 4 mile run on Sunday by myself. I had initially meant to run an easy 3 miles but I felt so good I added an additional mile and ran the last 3 at just about 8 minute pace again! I was pumped. I felt strong and comfortable again.

I took Monday off as I normally do and then ran 4 miles through downtown OKC on Tuesday. I love running downtown through the busy city streets and around the tall buildings. We also ran through the downtown museum garden which is really nice and ran the finishing stretch of the OKC Memorial Marathon. I ran that part harder and faster than I did during the actual marathon so it was a bit of redemption too.

Wednesday we finally saw the sun again and it was nice and hot. I was so excited to get out of work and get home for a nice, hot, sweaty run in the sun. I made it out the door and down the street about 1/4 mile before I lost focus and lost my motivation. I was really tired and my legs were sore. I wanted so badly to run long and sweat but my heart just wasn't in it so I stopped and walked home. Somewhat disappointing but there will be plenty of sunny days this summer for me to enjoy. No need to push it when I don't have to.

Tonight I met up with my old friends who I've been running with for sometime but had been missing for a few weeks due to marathons and other travels. It was nice to meet up again and get a nice 6 mile run in. I think I was the most rested of the bunch and I really wanted to push the pace a little. We held a nice 7:30-7:40 pace for the entire run and even had a little kick at the end. As usual they left me at the end but I didn't care. I'm a pace runner, no impressive sprints here, just good steady pace all the way from start to finish. That's who I am and I accept that. They are so much faster than me but we always have so much fun together and I get so much motivation from them.

Paula and I have come to terms, I think. I actually forgot her again on my first two runs this week but she didn't seem to mind. I think we both are trying to be a little less involved in this relationship and it's taken a lot of pressure off. Sometimes you have to let go a little to grow closer I guess.

Thanks for listening