“I wish they all could be California…”‏

Okay maybe not all of them, but I wish more of my runs could be along Redondo Beach. I ran about five and a half last Monday while we were out visiting Chelsea’s family. Of course it was beautiful running down to the pier and then along the boardwalk; about 65 degrees, a little breezy, and the sound of the ocean in the background. All these conditions made it so easy to run an eight minute pace, something I’ve been struggling to do for more than a couple miles all summer. I wouldn’t mind if 90% of my runs were in a setting like that. 

But I do like a little variety in my running weather. Most of my long runs while preparing for my first half marathon this past winter involved snow. I particularly remember when I ran eight miles for the first time. About three inches already accumulated, snow plows hadn’t touched the streets yet, and it was still coming down heavily. I remember it melting as it hit my shirt, and then freezing the front of my shirt so stiff it could have stood up on its own. 

I remember running two 5ks this summer in 90+ temperatures, and 90% humidity. You don’t really appreciate those runs until you’ve cooled off and re-hydrated. 

Then there was a thunderstorm run in June and coming home to a worried wife. I left the house after dark without thinking to check the weather; even if I had seen the forecast it probably wouldn’t have stopped me. The wind, the lightning and thunder, and the pouring rain… all too much fun. 

Temps are cooling off now, and that makes for some enjoyable outings. But in Cincinnati mild fall temperatures pass by too soon, making way for bitter cold. I’m starting to look ahead to winter runs now and I’m remembering all the preparations involved: tights, hats, gloves, and layers upon layers. More work. Less fun. But it’s better than a treadmill in my opinion. 

Monday night I did some speed work on the local high school track, something I always enjoy but don’t do enough. I did four and a half miles which included, with cool downs in between, two ‘gradual increase’ 400s, two 800s, two 400s, and three 100s. I decided to lay it all out on my last 100, just to see how fast (or less slow) I could go. 16 seconds. Usain Bolt nearly finished a 200 in that time. Very slow, yes, but it was at the end of the night. I was tired, okay! 

After finishing that last sprint I thought I might have injured myself. There was strange tightness in a multiple areas. I can only remember running that hard a couple times in my adult life. One time involved the Turkey Bowl at North Park, and the other involved racing to a car after a basketball game at Rupp Arena this spring. I won. That speaks poorly to my opponents, who will remain nameless. 

It’s Thursday now, and I’m happy to say I didn’t injure myself. The tightness is minimal, soreness is gone, and I’m thinking I can run that 100 meters in 13 seconds on fresh legs in a couple weeks.