On Wednesday I ran an eight-mile speed workout.  I alternated between slow and fast miles, and surprised the heck out of myself by hitting an amazing 6:46 on the eighth mile.  I think that brings me up to about 5 sub-7-minute miles since I left high school.

Speaking of high school, I ran with an old cross-country/track teammate this morning.  He was always significantly better than me, and still is, but he was itching to get out and do some distance.  I had a 20-miler on the schedule, so I told him if he’d meet me out at the Parkside course, I’d run with him.

The weather forecast was a little scary, with just-above freezing temps, wind, and an incoming blizzard expected.  Thinking to myself, “Do I really want to spend 3 hours running around in nasty cold weather?” I could only come back with a solid NO.  I mean, that’s just not good for certain parts, you know?  But Matt had put the offer out there, and I figured I could always call it early if the weather got to be too much.  Even five miles would have been better than zero.

I met Matt out there at 9, and the sun was kinda shining.  We decided to do 8k loops (5 miles each) until we got cold, tired, or hit 20 miles.  The trails were really muddy, and with the water, grit and dirt that worked into my shoes, I’ve got some nice tender spots.  But the run was good.  Matt and I chatted, catching up on old times, our younger siblings (since we’d all been friends as well as teammates), and all that fun stuff.  The first three laps cruised by.

Matt had to leave after 15, so I was left to grind out the last 5 on my own.  I think it was a good thing Matt left, as I was so beat down, I was barely faster than a walk for a good chunk, and actually did walk at several of the uphills.  I did it, though.  I ran my first 20 of the year.  It feels great to have that “epic” milestone under my belt.

After all, I have to do it again in two weeks!

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