I am grateful I can run.

The blinking cursor.  I haven't tried to write anything in ages.  Now I have a baby monitor of white noise humming in front of me.  Someone is moving.  Are they waking up?...no.  Babies are sleeping.

Here's the thing.  I love running trail.  And it makes me want to write.    Where it's like, this run, right now, under these trees, with this stifling humidity will be completely forgotten and only experienced now.  Of course, this is how almost all of the entire universe functions, but, still.  It makes me want to write to try and capture it for a few more moments. 

At the end of the street where ...No, I take that back.  It's not how the universe functions.  Those stars we see - they are the light rippling out from their original source, to be experienced again by us.  And anyone else who may be out there.  So, maybe writing about a run is like that.  If we can remember the stars, maybe it's okay to remember my runs.

At the end of the street where I live there are 72 acres of vacant land with a few miles of trail cut in that at least one of my neighbors mows regularly.  This is lovely.  Before he moved in someone less dedicated mowed them less frequently and all the shrubbery was really hard on the shins.  There's one stretch of trail that reminds me of Mike n Don's trail at Farmdale Reservoir in the Illinois River Valley.  (My heart still yearns for that Brigadoon-ish bit of God's country.  Such a special place.)  With pine trees all around and a blanket of pine needles on the ground, it feels sacred.  Not nearly as spectacular as Mike n Don's, but it has the same spirit, and no commute.  And on a hill where there has been some erosion and the red soil is so plain to see - I pretend it's not the red earth of South Carolina, but the red rock of Moab.  It makes me run faster.  Of course, in the summer, the creepy kudzu takes over a good bit of the trails down the hill.  They don't remind me of anything accept a horror film I would never watch, their long viney arms reaching, always trying to trip me up!  On the days I dare, that's when I practice my high stepping. 

Wildlife Prairie Park 4 mile Trail run

Last Saturday I ran the Wildlife Prairie Park Trail run. 4 miles of dirt, rocks, roots, hills, and valleys. Weather was perfect, which I wasn't anticipating, and so I overdressed by wearing capris instead of shorts. Sunny sky with just enough breeze to keep it pleasant.

Pre-race nerves as usual. Excellent race shirt! They were particular about distributing the size shirt you had requested on your race form--so mine fit!! Yay! (You know, race shirts that don't fit because they passed out all the smalls to people who don't know their size is one of my pet peeves.)

The race: I took it pretty easy. I ran with a very friendly retired surgeon named Rich. He was great fun! I realize just now that all the people I run with at Team Steam are women, and I miss running with men. Not that women aren't good running buddies too, but... So I ran with Rich, and since he's doing the Champaign marathon this next weekend, we took it easy.

My time is nothing to be proud of: 45:34. But, it was fun!

Now, talking about times, these are the times that have been recorded at Team Steam workouts:

4/6
2 mile ave pace: 10:23/mi

4/10
2 mile ave pace: 10:29/mi
2 mile ave pace: 11:19/mi

4/13
400 repeats: at paces: 8:04, 8:20, 8:36, 8:08, 7:52, 8:00, 8:16/mile

4/15
2 mile ave pace: 9:51/mi
2 mile ave pace: 10:17/mi

4/27
5k (3.1 mile) ave pace: 9:37/mile
5k (3.1 mile) ave pace: 10:02/mile

I'll plot them on a graph soon, but I can already see I'm improving, yay!

Running Data!!

400 m/1/4 mile repeat data from 4/13 is posted!

My times: 8:04 mile/mile pace, 8:20, 8:36, 8:08, 7:52, 8:00, 8:16.

____

2 mile loops x2 from 4/15 (1st mile up hill, 2nd mile down hill)

1st 2 mile loop: 9:51 min/mile pace, total: 19:41
2nd 2 mile loop: 10:17 min/mile pace, total: 20:33

Goal set: get a 2 mile loop in the 8s!

Track Day - 1/2 mile repeats

-Warm-up: 1 mile run to/from the cemetery
-15 minutes of 1/2 mile repeats on the track = 1.25 miles
-5 min rest
-15 minutes of 1/2 mile repeats - 1 mile.

Total: 3.25

And yesterday I went swimming for the first time in over a year. 1000 yds. It was surprisingly easy!

Man, the hills!

Today we ran around the cemetery. But don't think creepy, or boring, or plain. No, that's not how Peoria does a cemetery. Think a quaint creek, hills to make your legs burn, purple blossomed-trees, and just enough headstones scattered so that you know that you're in a cemetery, but you could almost not notice.

Apparently this is part of the Steamboat Classic. I'm starting to really look forward to that race. Aside from being a very challenging race (with all the hills), it's very pretty scenery! Different from Chicago's lakefront, but no less pretty.

Today's work out:

-1/2 mile warm-up (Should've been 1 mile, but I showed up at 6:01 and missed the proper instructions--these guys run a tight ship!)
-2 mile loop. First mile is basically up hill, 2nd mile mostly downhill
-3 minute rest
-2 mile loop repeat
-1/2 power walk back to car

Total: 4.5-5 with hellahills

Eric, I wish you could be here running these runs. You'd love 'em!!!

Another fun running day!

Yesterday's Workout:

-0.6 mile (I heard it was) warmup run down to the "Goose Loop." The Goose Loop is a D-shaped paved loop down by the river just south of the Komat'su plant. It's called the Goose Loop because it's a very popular hang out place for Canada Geese, and they leave lots of presents on the track. Running near the lake though is nice because there's a big of a breeze.
-15 minutes of 1/4 mile repeats w/ partner, with walking breaks
-5 minute water/rest
-15 minutes of 1/4 mile repeats
-0.6 mile cool down (uphill) run. Nothing like a cool down uphill run. :) I LOVE the hills here! Beat that one, Chicago. Also, these runners are really friendly. Which is to be expected as they are runners AND Peorian.

Total: 3.2-ish miles

I was beet red again when I got home. Yes, I am a competitive recreational jogger.

I love Team Steam!

Today's workout:

-1 mile warm-up, along the creek (this seems like a standard thing)
(a short rest)
-2.6 mile timed "endurance and strength" run: along the creek, in the cemetery like yesterday's 2 mile, then an extra 0.6 up a very very very steep hill! Very steep. (I assume my chip times will be posted tomorrow.)
(3 min or so rest)
-2.6 mile repeat.

Total: 6.2 miles!! Yay! And it feels great. My hamstrings felt really tight the first 5 miles or so, but then they finally relaxed a little. I met and talked and ran with two different women, which made running soooooo much more enjoyable than it has been. This really confirms for me that I am a social runner, and may as well get used to running with a running group. It seems to be a really friendly group. The coaches are great--very encouraging in a not-drill sergeant kind of way. :)

Today was much cooler weather (46F) than Tuesday (75F), which was the hottest run I've had since last year. It's really pretty, where these runs are. Wooded, winding creeks we're always crossing over, lots of old nice pretty trees. Ahh.