Slow and steady

No alarm to wake me since it's Saturday, and both boys were on sleepovers. Nonetheless, got up around 7:30 or so, laced up the Nikes and headed out. Thankfully, it was brisk. Forgot to check actual temperature, but I'm guessing it was in low 50s.

Ahhhh.

Saturday's goal was to finish the 2.5 miles without stopping. I intentionally don't look at my watch after 5 minutes so I don't start playing mind games when I hit the 11 minute mark -- which is when I went from a run to a walk Friday. The familiar course helps, as does the cooler weather. It's all about finishing without stopping today. At the 20 minute mark (I peek down at my watch, knowing I'm way past 11 minutes) it's pretty much no fun. I'm not plodding but it's close (half-plodding?). I turn the last couple of corners and know I'll make it home without stopping. As I get halfway down the my street, about 20 yards from the driveway, I pick up the pace (quarter plodding?).

Today's time is 26.29, but it's really about just finishing. Looking back at Thursday's time, I can't believe I bettered it. Weird, but encouraging!

It's neighborhood garage sale day, so after I do my 16-minutes of ab work and take a shower I walk across the street to my visit with my neighbor, Dave. I know Dave is a serious runner, because he was written up in Brom Hoban's column in the Austin American-Statesman last year. First thing he says as I walk up the driveway is, "I saw you out for a run this morning." I said, "Yeah, but I know better than to ever ask you to join me," and tell Dave and his wife I saw the column and know he's in a different league. They laugh. His wife mentions he's run the Boston Marathon twice. Wow. That's big time, as you have to qualify to run that one. His wife (Sandra? Sara? God, my memory for names is terrible) is a runner too. They are both super encouraging and asks lots of questions (what kind of shoes do you have? What marathon are you going to run?). Dave asks if I have any friends I run with. I tell him no. He nods. I think someday I'll be able to run with him, but that day's a ways off. We chat a few minutes more and as I head down his driveway, he calls out, "Slow and steady."

Slow and steady. I like that. I take that to heart.

No run on Sunday, a day of rest, but I do the P90X hour-long stretch routine. My lower back is a little stiff, but I feel much better when I'm done. I meant to do it last Sunday but forgot. Not this time. My body needs all the help it can get.