I decided to change my long run to Saturdays. It just works better for me, but that meant that, especially with the travel this week, that I had to cut out a run. I cut the 6 mile run, and did 4 on Friday, then my 18 this morning. The biggest swell of the year is hitting right now, and that did have some bearing on my activities.
I ran my 4 early on Friday morning, and by the time I finished my friend, Andrew, was waiting for me. The swell from Bill hadn't quite kicked up yet, but we surfed for about 45 minutes in waist high waves. I worked the rest of the day, and went out again in the early evening. The waves were easily overhead by this time, and I got worked pretty hard. I came in for coffee, and then got talked into going out again. The waves weren't quite so big, and I got a few really good rides. Then on my way in I got put through the washing machine again, and I was done for. I thought for sure I'd hurt this morning, but I really felt good.
I got up at 3AM. I stretched and stashed extra drink at the half-way point (with a secret stash at 3 miles to go). I hit the road around 4-4:15. The temp was only 74, and the humidity felt low (it was only 94%). After a mile or two I started to feel really good, but around mile 6 or so the path goes inland and passes under over-hanging trees. Did I mention it was a new moon? So at 5 AM it was dark enough to choke a frog. When cars would come by, their high beams on, it would blind me so that I couldn't see the trail at all. I resorted to slowing and running by braille. Oops, that's a tree. Veer off. Now I'm in the grass. And when there weren't cars, I could see maybe 30 feet ahead. Animals rustled in the brush, and occasionally I'd run into a low hanging branch. It was awesome. By the time I got out of the woods (literally) the sky was lighter, and I felt good enough to run the last 5-6 miles a little harder. I skipped my secret stash as I had plenty of drink left. The sun was just peeking over the horizon when I finished, and the temp had risen only one degree. My feet hurt, my ankles hurt, my shins hurt, my knees hurt, my thighs hurt, my hips hurt and my back was tense. But I felt strong enough at the end to give a little kick the last quarter mile. It was a very good run for me.
The waves were even bigger, and I've stayed in today. They were easily double overhead, and though I saw a lot of guys out I didn't see one person catch a wave in the half hour I watched. The waves were just too big for our sand bars. I have some mildly sore muscles, but feel good after a meal and a nap.
Oh, my tibialis muscle (the one on the front of my shin) on my right leg is sore. That's new. What's that all about?
Stats:
Friday
4.06 miles
36:00
8:51/mile
Saturday
18.0 miles
2:41:40
8:58/mile
It's a way of looking at the Mike and saying, "Hey, Bud! Let's party!" Where'd you get that jacket?
You are fast.
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