STR: Day 9

I've decided to start abbreviating "Summer Training Regimen," in part because it's long to write out every time, in part because I'm afraid I'll accidentally type "Regiment" one of these times, and in part because the acronym "STR" looks like an abbreviation for "strength." Neat how that worked out, eh?

This morning, I was up bright and early for a run--protein shake in my belly, Vibrams on my feet, headphones in my ears, and tunes pounding down through my legs. It was 6:48 at Mile 0. My run took me from an industrial park to an actual park. At one point, I politely greeted a pair of runners heading the other way, then as I looped around, we "ran into" each other again. We flashed smiles all around, as strangers became familiar faces.

My big loop through the town ended up totaling 6.26 miles and eating up 53:45 of my day, which meant a pace of 8:35 per mile. It wasn't as fast as I would have liked, nor as slow as I feared I was going, especially when the going got tough in the last mile. Seriously: who put that hill in the last mile back to my house? I don't like running up it at the start of my run and I sure as heck don't like running up it at the end of my run, even if it does make the final bit mostly downhill.

But anyway, I did it, my calves are leading the rest of my leg muscles in a "we did it!" chorus, and I'm showered, dressed, and ready to face the day.