Having a running partner was a bit strange since I have always run alone.  I tried to keep my usual pace but, at the half way point, I knew I had gone faster than usual.  I decided to pick it up a bit and see what I had left in the tank.  I finished in 25.17 which is over a minute faster than my previous best time.

It was fun running with my son!  Now there’s a statement I never thought I would ever say.  It’s probably a surprise to Michael too!  Who knows – maybe running will become a family activity – started by the old man!

Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day!!! I will be ready!  And I will do great!

I got myself ready to go, strapped on my Camelback with a couple of bottles of Smartwater, and I headed out of the hotel.  It was several block to the entrance to the trail and then down a path to the trail, right by Reagan National.  It was exciting to see the planes from that close up as they made their way to the runway for takeoff.  Then the trail follows the Potomac River, with the monuments of DC just across the river.  No matter what your political views or your attitude about our government, the view of these splendid historical buildings is pretty cool.  I was so happy to be out there on a nice, but humid morning and I said hello to every runner, walker, and biker that I saw.  I felt so great, so alive, so healthy.

I could see The Jefferson Memorial off to my right and my directions said to take a right turn at the George Mason Bridge.  There was only one problem.  I ran under the bridge but I saw no way to turn right without going into the water!  If I had been in a car on the road, I could have turned on the bridge but not from down on trail.  So I kept going, thinking that there is probably some way to get to the Jefferson.  Eventually, I came upon a bridge so I went part way onto it where I could see the monuments far behind me.  Ummm, this can’t be right.  Now I know I missed it and I am wondering where I am and how far away I am from the hotel.  I am actually getting a bit nervous.

So I turn around to go back on the trail and I see a sign that it is 4.5 miles back to Crystal City.  If I add in the distance back to the hotel, which is at least a half a mile, that means this 7 miler is actually going to be a 10 miler!  I am thinking to myself that this is going to be really hard but I did the best I could and walked when I had to.  It felt really good to see the familiar sights as I got closer to the hotel.  The Jefferson Memorial was there, right where I had left it.  Then the airport came into view and the planes landing were almost close enough to touch them.  What an amazing sight!

I got back to the hotel and stopped my timer at 2:18.50.  I had done 10 miles at almost the same pace at which I had done 5 miles just two weeks ago.  I was thrilled and now I am absolutely positive that I can do 13.1 in November.  Bring it on!

Today, the training schedule called for a 2.5 mile run.  That means 2.2 miles in my hilly neighborhood with a little bit of relatively flat pavement in front of Publix.  I decided to run the whole thing instead of following the interval method.  I figured I could do it and do it I did!  Actually did 2.6 miles in 34.28.  Not too shabby.

Not long ago, I struggled to run a lap around the Georgia Tech track.  I used to go there at my lunch hour and walk, with the Tech track team looking at me, probably wondering who this old guy was.  One day, I got brave and decided to try to run a lap.  I couldn’t do it the first time I tried it but I kept at it and I finally could do a quarter mile.  Pretty soon, I was up to 2 laps.  Then, in April, I did my first 5K, a 10K in July, and now training for the Half.  I am so thankful that I have found the motivation to lose 85 pounds and to get healthy!

Be Well!

Namaste.

As I got into the elevator to go back to my room, a guy in the elevator, who was on his way to breakfast and a business meeting, said to me, “I give you a lot of credit for getting up and exercising”.  I thanked him and thought to myself how I never thought those words would ever apply to me!  But they do!  And I do have to give myself a lot of credit for setting a goal and keeping to my schedule, even though I have been out of town a couple of times.  I take my running gear with me, I scout out the territory, and I get out of bed and run!  It’s getting better all the time.

I woke up at 6AM this morning in Nashville and was greeted to a lightning and thunder storm.  So I got myself ready and waited for the storm to pass.  I had mapped out a 5 mile course, which basically was running back and forth on a dead end road by our hotel.  Not scenic but functional.  It was about 72 degrees after the storm passed and a bit humid but not too bad.  So off I went – run 3 walk 1.  I felt really good doing this method but I must say that the 1 minute walk seemed to go by a lot faster as I got closer to the end.

I was astonished with my time.  1:04.24 which is under a 13 minute mile – even with walking for about 15 minutes.  I am very happy with how I felt and I can’t wait for a longer run 2 weeks from now.  13.1 miles on Thanksgiving Day!