Slow and Steady

Okay, so I may have made up the mileage that I skipped.

Not entirely, and certainly not at pace, but I felt like running today, so I did. The reason that I don't feel this is a problem is that it was easy to do. I woke up right on time, and while my body was a little stiff from yesterday's power run, it didn't take long to shake out the cobwebs.

I wanted to go slow, and that's exactly what I did. My pace this morning was barely faster than I ran on Saturday, which was perfect. It was a nice, easy, recovery run. It cleared my head, pumped my adrenaline, and got me started on my Wednesday morning without any level of exhaustion. I'm still ready for tomorrow's speed work, and whatever remaining disappointment there may have been about missing Monday is officially gone.

There was one other consideration that got me out the door this morning. Today marks one month until the Sunburst Marathon in South Bend. I'm feeling strong and confident in my ability to run a Boston Qualifier there, which would free me up to enjoy a couple fun runs late this year or early next year. I'm looking at you, Disney.

I left my weakness and disappointment in April. May will be month of strength and optimism. This does not (he reminded himself) mean that I'm going to run every day. It means that when I do run, I will do so intelligently. When I don't, I'll do some yoga or baking or some other enjoyable but relaxing (and not at all physically taxing) activity. And when I get to the starting line one month from this morning, I'm going to look up and smile. And that smile will stay with me (at least in my mind) for all twenty-six miles, right into Notre Dame stadium, which is once again the finish line.

Never have I run so many miles in preparation for a race. Never have I been so fast and so consistent. Never have I felt so strong and confident one month out from a beast of a race.

It's going to be a great month.

Wednesday's workout:
70 degrees
3.22 Miles (SLOW!)