Vacations seem to have a way of disappearing quickly, don't' they Jay?  Glad you enjoyed yours.  Thanks again for serving as relay rendezvous.  You're an excellent host.

5.1 miles this morning in the 45F that I missed yesterday.  First mile was slower than it felt, but in compensation, the last two were faster than they felt.  I think that's the way it's supposed to work, but sure doesn't happen as often as I would like.

Good Morning!

Yes, awesome weather here, too.  I was able to run 8 miles this morning at a sub 9 (8:51) pace and return home without my shorts dripping!  It is past 9 am and it still isn't 80 degrees yet!   AND,  last night's run was downright invigorating.  The breeze was refreshing!  Did 2 5 mile progression runs....ah, this is because I went to the usual spot for Speedsters and did my 5 mile warmup before the start, wherein I try to run each mile a little faster, then meet up with the group.  Did that, but no runners at the end....turned out they switched sites and I neglected to check FB to see that.  So I did 5 more by myself and since I couldn't think of any other drill (well, sure, there are 400s and 800s, but I didn't want  to think of them), just ran another progression run of 5 miles.  OVerall 8:13 (I know, I couldn't have gone a little faster or slower, for an 8:12 or 8:14???  If I had known, I would have.)

I want to share a poem that embodies a lot of why I love early morning running.  I always thought I'd like it, just couldn't get my lazy self motivated to do it until I moved south and had to learn to do it or not run (and we know that's just NOT an option.)  FOund this in Thunder Bay, where they have a thoughtfully laid out art/literary walk along the shore line in viewing distance of the Sleeping Giant.  That's the meaning of "giant" in line four.  (A rock formation on the top of Sibley Pennisula that looks like an Indian in repose.  Massive and stunning; google it for photos.)

I'll sign off here, so you can really take a moment with the poem.  Have a happy hump day.

Breathing
The city is newborn each morning,
Early light setting the harbour on fire.
God's breath hovers
Above the lighthouse, the gulls, the giant,
The streets with their sleeping cars,
The empty parking lots downtown.

Gulls walk on the ice
And the Canada Geese return north.

This is the holy hour
Before the noise of coffee grinders and news reports
Before the testosterone of traffic and commerce.
This is the moment to breathe in,
To be filled to overflowing.

~Marianne Jones
Location: Base of Pier 2 beyond Waterfront Plaza

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Weather, heh?  Well, I am finally close enough to the VT50 to check the weather, and it looks like low of 51, high of 79.  Since I am a slower runner, I expect I will be running from 8am to 2pm+, so I will likely see the 79 on my run, but I'm okay with that.  I will luxuriate in the lovely end-of-season warmth, enjoy the beauty of the surroundings, and relax in the sun afterward.

DD's early morning ortho appt. had me switch out tomorrow for today, so just 30 minutes or so of upper body weights and core.

Aamos - Lovely!  And found on Canadian soil too!  That IS a big giant!

Oh no, Tammy said the "s" word!  We are doomed!

Too much rain here, just too much, I could hear it all night long.  I couldn't get up to run in that, in the dark too!  I wanted to, just to have one up on Twocat....but I failed!

Help me to beat my blerch!

BTY, happy birthday.  steve, great family pictures at the race.  Tammy, I'm glad to hear you got some rain.

Nice long run for marj and good job on the speedwork for The Saint (and ribs).

This morning, my wife had a doctor's appointment in Saginaw (hour away) at 6:20 am.  I ran after we got back.  The temp was in the low 60s and there was a light wind.  I got in 5 miles at a 10:32 pace.  I don't know what happened as I didn't feel motiviated  and my recent runs have been at an 11+ pace.  I thought I was just poking along like usual but my Garmin had 10:40 at the first mile.  It wasn't feeling different than usual so I just tried to keep going the way I started and pushed a little extra the last mile or so.

A good day and good runs for all.

TomS

nice poking along Tom.

Help me to beat my blerch!

Enke -
So that’s what Blerch is.
There was a Beat the Blerch 10K/Half/Full last weekend on the park trails around Carnation with an Oatmeal or something author signing books.  The event belatedly appeared on the Marathon Maniacs Race Calendar too late to sign up after it was already so overbooked with 4,000 runners that they put the overflow in a duplicate running the next day.
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However, a good make-up one might be this Saturday’s Fat Glass 50K at 10:00 a.m. consisting of six laps around your favorite Bridle Trails Park.  I haven’t been there since my ignominious DQ in the January evening version in 2007. In fact, this one’s advertised as “same as the Bridle Trails Winter 50K but in nice weather and during normal running hours.”
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With glasses of beer awaiting runners at every 5.2 mile lap, there’s only two divisions: (1) men/women and (2) drunk/sober.  For some reason or the other, it seems a lot of runners gleefully drop out after two or three laps as “Disqualifications are encouraged.”   That will be me but I won’t need the beer to do it.
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Still doing the Fishes 5K?
Me too, I hope.

Wow that fat glass run is TEMPTING.  As I usually run there on the weekend anyway......and you only have to commit to one lap....