28 minutes- Week 8

It's been a while, so for those of you sitting on the edge of your seats, I am sincerely sorry. If you are sitting on the edge of your seat (i.e this blog is what you live for) again, I apologize. For a completely different reason.

Here are the short and long of it. Summer vacation started one week ago! This means that on Monday I procrastinated sooo much, I missed the run. Then on Tuesday, rain. Huh. Rain. End of June. California. Huh.

Anyways. After the rain (washes away the tears/and all the pain) stopped on Wednesday, I put on my running shoes and left for the first run of Week 888888888 (hear that voice fading out dramatically). The fact it has been four whole days since my last run had me a bit worried. Was it going to be hard? Would I be able to run for 28 minutes without stopping? The answer to both questions was:

YES!

The relatively flat Stow Lake route has given me the chance to watch Canadian Geese grow from yellow goslings to full-flighted poopers. I see older asian men and women out for their constitutional. It's tourist season, and without a permit you can't shoot them. Unless they hand you their camera. But it is so cute to see them out with their backpacks and sensible (or not so) shoes. Can I pinch their cheeks?

Today was a different route. This is actually an old training route from the Avon walk last year. When I was walking 3 miles every other day, this route fit the bill:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4618018

It's a loop, and once I go out, there's no going back. Notable sights are bison, portals into the past, the turducken creature, and tourists (this time on bicycles!). Also of note is the fact that no matter which way one approaches the loop, going out is downhill and coming back is uphill.

This poses one major question. Do I...
a. Go out on the sharper downhill slope and come back on the more gradual, though still discernible, uphill slope.
b. Go out on the softer slope then run up the bigger slope, knowing there is no hill at the very end?

I chose A. Here's what that looks like, in mental monologue form:

Man, this warm up-walk seems long. I better stretch. Mmmmmmm. Stretching feels soooo goood. Maybe I should stretch before every run.....
Hm. Is that guy on the bike homeless or just running errands?
Oh! Tourists! Better blend into the tree-no, wait. Didn't get the permit.
Ok, lets start jogging!
Jeez.
The first five minutes seem really easy. And I'm running a little faster then I normally do. This feels pretty good!
Oh! Downhill! Zoooooooooommmmmmmmmm.
Frisbee! Darn the golf course.
Just keep jogging, just keep jogging!
Wow! Half way through? And I'm up to Sprekles? This is going to be awesome! I may hit a whole 2.5 miles!
Squirrel!
There are the bison, there are two people taking up the entire walkway, and now I'm going to not step in that dog poo. Stupid dog poo non-picker-uppers.
Crossing the street-don't hit me, idiot! Can't you see me jogging here?
Cop on a horse. Hi horsey! Sir.
This is where the uphill part starts. Maybe I should slow down just a bit.
Ok. This is more of a hill then I remember.
Oh, tourists sitting. Gotta keep going.
Keep Going
Why are you walking! Sweat doesn't bite!
Keep. Going. Keep. Going.
5 walking steps! Not acceptable. Jog!
5 more minutes. I can do 5 more minutes.
Stitch in side. Sweat running into eyes. Legs burning. Can't keep going....
60 seconds left. Must. Not. Stop. Running.
Must. Run. Extra. 20. Seconds. To. Make. Up. For. Walking.
Voice says stop running.
WALK NOW YOU CRAZY LADY!

And here's how far I got!

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4618015

Since this is now my goal (do the loop without stopping), I may stay on Week 8 for an extra week. We'll see how the last run goes. On Sunday.

TTNF!