AM - 6 miles this morning - after two weeks of slacking off, I am now back on track! On vacation, I found it exceedingly difficult to get out early for a run - usually the activities from the day left me fairly wiped out at the end of the day, and when I would wake up in the morning, I wouldn't want to run. When I got up this morning, it was to muggy weather that we seem to have brought back with us from Florida - boo! First 3 miles were nice and easy, around 8:10/mile. Just before the 3 mile turnaround, I passed a man running in the opposite direction. When I turned around, he wasn't too far in front of me, so I started off at a little bit of a quicker pace. When I caught up to him, he picked up the pace. "Well, I can do that", I thought, so I kept right up with him, although I was on the sidewalk and he was on the bike lane on the road. After about 1/4 mile at this pace, I picked up the pace ever so slightly and started to pull ahead of him, and got back onto the road in front of him. At the end of my 4th mile, I slowed back down to 8-plus minute pace and checked my split, to find out that I had just busted out a 6:45 mile. Oops . . . I really hadn't intended on doing that. Run felt okay, despite the (perceived) humidity, legs felt pretty good, but my calves felt a little tight. I will get Lybi to do some scraping and massage tonight to make sure I don't hurt myself again. I am still hoping to be able to do the ADT 1/2 marathon on Labor Day in Colorado Springs as a good tuneup for St. George. | 