Its been 2 days since I last wrote, and its been an interesting ride for the most part. Yesterday was a struggle, for whatever reason, but its an interesting story and taught me to PLAN better for my mid-week longer run … here’s how it went.

So I had 10 miles scheduled, which takes about 1 1/2 hours and I took the time to map a different course out (more on that later), so I set the alarm for 4:15, so I can get out of the house by 4:30. No biggy. So the alarm went off and frightened me and I bumped my glass of water on the night stand and spilled water on my clock, which then wouldn’t shut off (had to unplug it). Great start. So then I didn’t get my shorts out the night before (all I needed was shorts because it was so warm), and I couldn’t find them. Here I am hunting around in the dark trying to find my shorts. Finally after struggling around, I found them halfway behind my dresser (they fell back) … so I put them on. I finally got downstairs to put on the coffee and realized it was 4:26 already …… no time for coffee, so I took my medication and headed out the door. Note that its just 4:30 in the morning, the sun doesn’t yet come up until 5:38 in these parts this time of year.

Yesterday was quite warm, so it was nice to get out as I headed down to the back mountain trail … I got as far as about 10 yards before it and realized that the trail is going to be terribly DARK at 4:30 in the morning. Its completely covered by trees … so as I trek up the path to the trail, I realize I have to slow down and find a way to light the trail … hence, the Stilleto. I realized that if I hit the button, the display lights up and gives me some light so i don’t break my neck. It really was dark and I slowed to an almost fast walk … I knew that after I got through the first part of the trail, it wouldn’t be so bad, but on top of not knowing where I was walking, it was scary … I didn’t know if there were any weirdos, or bums, or even animals out there ready to jump me. it was awful.

So after struggling through that and arriving in Luzerne on my new course, I headed out trying to make up for the slow time due to it being so dark. By this time, it was more light out then it was … so I made my way through Luzerne, and as I was heading up main street, I realized that I was making GREAT time … it was only 40 or so minutes in and I was more than halfway through the course (just had to enter the trail and head home). It was at that point I realized that I mis-mapped my course. I figured 2.5 miles down the trail, 2.5 miles in Luzerne, and 2.5 miles back up the trail … yep, only 7.5 miles. I thought “this is going to suck” .. and during the run tried to figure how I would make up 2.5 miles to get my 10 in.

I contemplated on whether to do another Luzerne loop, or just head back and do it around the house … I decided to head back and ran the difficult hills and proceeded down to Cooks pharmacy and back to make the difference. It was NOT a great run, but I got it in.

Regardless, this morning’s run went a little bit better, I planned it out, got ready and was back early. It really paid to prepare, I learned that from my experience on Wednesday.

I’m thankful that I am heading into my rest day tomorrow, I need a good day of rest I think. My battle wounds for the week seemed to have healed, including the pain in my foot, which went away, the pain in my calves, which went away as well. I am pretty torn up around my waist from the fuel belt, and I’ve got some chaffing between the legs from my shorts (being so sweaty from the heat). Other than being just tired, I think i’m in decent shape going into the stepback week. We’ll have to see.

Hopefully anyone reading enjoyed my story from yesterday … its funny now that I look back at it, but it wasn’t funny at the time. These are the lighter moments of running I guess.