A do run run run a do run run.

Bob and I were planning to run 8 miles tonight, but he had to go off to some work conference (like work is more important) and would be running around a nice golf course/country club all by himself.

So, I decided to get up and run all by myself  - *gasp.  I know many of you run by yourself most of the time, but since coming back from my 13 day and 11 hour running hiatus... I really was looking forward to running 8 with Bob.  And in order to run by myself, I decided to stick with my original plan and run only 5 miles.

I needed to be at the Elementary School by 9:45, so I started early. The last couple of mornings it had been quite chilly, so I dressed in my cute running skirt and knee socks... but as I walked my children to the first bus stop, I was HOT. I did not have enough time to go home and change if I was to make it to school on time - I am not sure how G and T run with knee socks all of the time.

Anyway, I was cruising along, and because traffic was so bad, I was running faster than all of the cars - it felt nice. Mile 1 split: 8:35.

By mile 2, I was getting really hot and noticed that my back started to hurt. I decided to check off my Chi Running posture list and the ache ceased. Mile 2 split: 9:23. By mile 3, I was headed over the major interstate (still running faster than the cars) and as I passed a gas station, I had an incredible urge to pee... this NEVER happens to me. So I turned around and used the surprisingly clean facilities and rinsed off. Mile 3 split: 9:35

The hard part about stopping was that at mile 3, there is a HUGE foot bridge over the interstate and it is a big, long hill. I tried to maintain my pace... but I felt like I was running in place... and then my right hamstring started to feel tight. Again, I decreased the distance in my stride and the pain ceased. I completely missed the Garmin beeping at mile 4, but I made it over the foot bridge.

At mile 4.5, I was almost run over in a cross walk by an impatient women in a sports car.... but that is when my right ankle started to hurt - you know the one that the Doctor said could have a fracture in... I started to get nervous, but concentrated on my foot placement... and the pain ceased.

At mile 5, I was near the fields at elementary school and saw a class on the field, running. I looked closer and saw that my Kiera was one of them. I yelled her name and she looked up at the sky (seriously, she thought it was the voice of God?). I yelled again, "Go Kiera!" She finally saw me and sped up.... and the next thing I know, the whole classes is sprinting to catch me... I started to encourage all of the class.... it was awesome.

By mile 5.3, I was at her school surrounded by 27, 2nd graders - it was an awesome feeling... and in case you are wondering, Kiera was girl #1 to finish and the 4th student to finish. Perhaps she is more like me than I had imagined - we are just going to have to work on her training so she beats those silly boys!