Running 43:59 [3] 4.5 mi (9:46 / mi)
shoes: Wave Nirvana 3
As Steve and I run every other morning, it was two days ago that we last spoke. After our run Friday, following our ceremonial cool down stroll, less a regimental practice seated in sound science or reasonably expected from experienced coaches, and more like the twitching of a severed frog leg slowly coming to its end, not realizing there is no more frog, we, having satisfied to a minimum standard the needs of our major muscles, walking half a block up the street and back again, parted.
Steve, knowing details of my habits and life, perhaps beyond truth itself, was well aware of my hopes to Orienteer the following day. He analyzed the current information from our morning conversation and the knowledge he possesses of my past, and presented a reasonable path for our next encounter, “I guess since you are orienteering tomorrow, I will see you Tuesday morning.”
‘Huh’, I thought. He was thinking I would take Sunday off. I had not thought about that myself. I just assumed I would run. ‘Maybe I should not’, I considered, internally. ‘I want to keep training, but if I Orienteer, I may be in need of rest.’ “I don’t know, I’ll let you know”, I replied.
As my log will show I O’d yesterday, but I felt good during the event, and did not suffer majorly after. I would run the next day for sure. Yet, last evening, as I admitted the end of my day had come, realizing the book I was reading had fallen to my face twice, smudge marks on the page; I pulled up the covers and flipped off the light, falling fast asleep for the night, without calling my dear friend and running partner, having forgotten the uncertainty in my now deliberate intentions. Oops.
This morning I got up, checked the temperature, went through my pre-run regimen, (it was a long tech tee, and running shorts day), and moseyed on down the street, four houses away, to join forces with my neighbor, to form, perhaps, the most senior running pair in the city. Yet, there was no Steve. I had forgotten to call. Being an otherwise sane individual, he likely chose to wait for a bit more sunlight, and although, incredibly comfortable at 7:00, maybe some more warmth and surety of dry skies.
I gave him the understood 5 minute courtesy wait, just in case, and following a personal dialog weighing the pros and cons of going back to bed, I proceeded with a simple city run of 4.5 miles along the highway, through downtown, the hood, and back.
Three days in a row, I am sore now.
Steve, I will see you Tuesday morning.