Long run. Average pace: 10:15.
Weather from 6:45 - 10:45 am: low temp 34°F, high temp 48°F, 23% humidity, wind 10 mph SW. Notice the temperature differential. That's what happens when I begin a long run before sunrise.
First, I'll tell you about the run. I started from the Goodson Rec Center and ran south on the Highline Canal Trail for 2.5 miles then turned around and ran back. I stopped at my car and got my sunglasses because the sun had just come up. While I was at my car, I saw a woman run past me on the trail. I started running again in the same direction as the woman and realized I was running slightly faster than her. I caught up with her and then slowed down to her speed and ran and talked with her for a little while. It was nice. But I didn't stay with her too long because she was going slower than I wanted to go. I ran 6 miles north on the trail from my car and then back again, which made a total of 17. I was stretching after the run and a guy came up and started stretching. He had just finished 20 miles. He said he saw me near the end and tried to catch up with me but couldn't. I had actually picked up the pace just a little on the last 4 miles because I was tired and wanted to finish. My pace on the last four miles was 9:51, 9:41, 9:56, 9:12.
Okay, now I'll tell you that this run was the stupidest thing I could have done today. I had a little tightness all along the back of my left leg yesterday. But it wasn't too bad, and I did get more sleep than usual, so I got up and ran anyway. While I was running it was hurting a bit and I thought about cutting the run short. But I didn't cut the run short, and now it's really hurting - to the point that I'm limping. The pain is concentrated at the back of my left knee and the top of the calf. Note that this is not the knee that was bothering me earlier in the week - it's the other one. Fortunately I have a rest day tomorrow. But I'm thinking I may need a longer rest than that. I hope that nothing serious is wrong and that it won't take too many days for this pain to go away. Why do I have such a hard time running less than I have planned? When will I learn my lesson? *Update* I iced my knee, took some ibuprofen, and took a nap and my knee is feeling MUCH BETTER. I can still feel a twinge, but I can walk without a limp now and it actually feels better than it did yesterday. Maybe I'll be okay by Monday. Also, I meant to mention that this week is the highest mileage week I have ever done and is likely to remain in that position for at least a few weeks. Next week will be lower mileage, even if I don't knock things down because of soreness.
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