Number 9, number 9, number 9...

Today I headed into Clemson to run the actual race course for my long run -- here's a link to what I did (Just about.  I veered left instead of right at the end so I landed up doing 9 instead of 10 miles, no biggie, I was scheduled to do 9.5 today.)  The beginning of the course was hilly in that gradual build dammit-why-won't-this-thing-end way.  And around mile 3 the vitamins I took that morning started to turn my stomach.  That lasted for two miles.  Whole Foods, you make good vitamins but man are they not happy when being jostled around.  After 6 miles, I got to the really beautiful part of the run -- the dike on Lake Hartwell.  I had never been up there before and, with it being around 65 and sunny, it was gorgeous.  And flat!  And soft and grassy, which was actually kind of weird and a little uneven to run on.  Even if it was better for my legs.  Here's someone else's view:

It really took my mind off the run and I loved looking around -- Maddy and Alice would love it up here, so I think we'll take them back some time.  I spent about 3 miles on the dike and then headed back past the golf course and to the Brooks Center, where I finished!  I went in to say hello to Woody and steal some water from the green room. 

I just checked my pace for the run and I ran 10:31 miles!  Woohoo!  That is 30 seconds better than my usual pace.  I feel pretty good right now but that will probably change this evening when my body realizes it ran 9 miles today...

8:20 mile!

My blistering pace continues to be, well, not quite blistering.  It more like a persistent itch, or maybe the beginning of a rash.  Either way, 8:20 is my fastest so far!  I did three mile repeats today and that one clocked in at the most...itchy.

A couple of days ago I ordered a different hands-free leash.  The previous one was fine but not quite padded enough for the occasional moments when Alice pulls ahead.  And, given that it was missing a price and the great folks at Appalachian Outfitters gave it to me $15, I didn't feel too bad about shelling out for a cushier one.  Not to mention, it's called a Mt. Tam Leash and Belt.  And I sometimes miss California.  I am a sucker for marketing.

8 miles high...

8.25 miles this morning!  Alice came along for the first 5, here's how we looked:

(I took off my hat and gloves for the pic -- the hat makes me look like an old timey aviator.)  Woody took Alice off my hands after 5 miles and I went out on my own for the last 3.  She didn't seemed phased by that distance...until now (about 3 hours after the run).  She seems to be sacked out for the day.  Clearly it was hard work keeping up with my blistering 11ish-minute mile pace.

Look Ma, no hands!

Today I went running with the very neat hands free leash I got for Christmas from Woody.  Alice was happy because she could roam (within Rachel-determined reason), I was happy because I could use both arms (to beat off the throngs of admirers and paparazzi that follow me on each run).  And I got my best time on these 3 mile runs yet.  Now if only I could find myself a hands free nose wiper...