Hello mates – I needed to pop in and share some latest running-specific adventures.
First up is the third annual Memorial 5k for my good friend Paul, which was held final week on the W&L highschool observe in Arlington the place all of us met twice per week for a lot of a few years for our observe exercise group.
I now not attend the group (I went constantly for about 4 or 5 years, however then when Riese was born by no means went again in full drive, and now that we dwell down in Del Ray as an alternative of proper by the observe it’s simply too sophisticated logistically, however I miss it)!
Paul and I met on the observe exercise group again in 2013, and shortly grew to become good working buddies, coaching for a lot of a marathon along with our different observe mates (pictured right here on a cold and snowy run in January 2017 with our good friend Diane).
He was the proper working buddy as a result of he had a seemingly countless provide of humorous tales to inform. Certainly one of my favourite runs with him was this 20 miler on a random Monday in 2016; he supplied to maintain me firm for 14 of these miles as a result of I used to be unhappy I used to be touring over the weekend and missed our large group future!
Here’s another of my favorite long runs we did together that got recapped on the blog – there’s a humorous image of him wringing out his socks mid-run.
Paul very sadly handed away in November 2020. The first memorial 5k was held a pair weeks later, and observe veterans who knew Paul however didn’t actively attend anymore had been additionally invited to affix in.
I missed final yr’s 5k due to lack of childcare logistics, so I actually needed to ensure to make it this yr!
It was very nice to see some previous observe mates and my coach, and to all collectively bear in mind our good friend Paul. Mom nature cooperated properly with a fantastic dawn for us that received an increasing number of epic as we ran (dawn pictures courtesy of Diane’s husband who was there supporting however not working).
In honor of Paul who was all the time proper on my heels (or my rabbit in entrance of me) on the observe as motivation, I aimed to run a “quick for me proper now” tempo.
I’ve been doing most of my runs these days between 9:30 and 10 minute mile tempo, so I made a decision a great problem could be to intention for something beneath a 9 minute mile common tempo, and I nailed it.
It felt onerous however not insane, and having the others and my previous coach yelling out my splits as I handed him helped maintain me motivated!
We miss you, Paul. <3
Over the weekend, I met my good friend Kathleen for a run. I went up her method the previous few instances we’ve met for runs so this time she got here close to me and we met at Daingerfield Island to run alongside the Mt. Vernon Path on the Potomac River.
It was chilly and windy out however felt nice as soon as we had been shifting. I used to be feeling fairly sluggish and drained – seemingly due to my sooner 5k two days earlier than – however the dialog helped maintain me going.
This was positively a run the place if I’d been alone I in all probability would’ve walked the entire thing, so I used to be actually glad to have firm!
4 miles, examine!
We’re working a 10k collectively (together with my good friend Katie) this weekend which will likely be enjoyable! I’ll share a recap subsequent week, together with some vacation recipe inspiration.
Have a beautiful weekend, mates, and see you again right here quickly!
