April: 46.29 miles

Hooray! Always a good thing when your mileage this month is more than the previous month!

spotted

I'm always surprised by just how long it takes for my body to get back into the rhythm of running. I've been running 3 or 4 times a week for the past several (five?) weeks and this morning's run was finally the one that felt good. It finally felt comfortable. It finally felt like it wasn't a struggle the entire time. I actually felt like I could have gone further but that pesty little Garmin I was wearing began beeping "battery low" and with me being the total nerd and information-obsessed person I am with running, I turned around at that point to double back. Because if the battery died along the way back, I would still know exactly how far I had run. Yes, I know, I'm a slave to the darn thing...

Later in the morning I bumped into a woman I know and she said the dreaded "Hey, I saw you running this morning." I always wonder if I looked miserable at the time of the spotting. Was my running form good? Was I running a faster pace at that point? I guess this is why I don't like family and friends to be spectators at races. Silly, silly me.

Carlsbad 5000

Yesterday was the world famous Carlsbad 5000. The race touts itself as being the world's fastest 5K and there have been many records, both national and international, set at this particular race. But along with the invited elite racers are the runners who simply run for the pure joy of running. I didn't run it this year, but will definitely be toeing the line next year.

This year we were all spectators. It's weird how runners never really look like they are moving that fast, but they really, really are! We watched the 30-something men finish and the first guy crossed in at 15:06. That translates to a 4:51 minute mile. Amazing!

Today during my treadmill run I punched up the speed to a 7:30 minute mile. And I could barely keep up. And I only held on for about a 1/4 of a mile.

I have so much respect and admiration for everyone who runs, regardless of pace or distance. Seeing runners push themselves like they did yesterday really inspires me.