Today was a chilly but otherwise good day for a run. It was 41F when I got outside, so I was dressed pretty warmly. By the end of the run, it was still only 45F, but the sun was up, so I felt too warm. I wore cold weather running pants and a long sleeved running shirt. I also started with gloves, but those came off after a few miles. I just stuffed them under my iFitness belt and all was well.
My original goal was 8 miles for today. Mother nature delayed me a little more than I had wanted to, so I changed my goal to 1:30. It turns out, if it not were for a special encounter, I would have finished 8 miles before the 1:30 mark.
I was running down an asphalt path that has a very steep hill. It's not very long, but steep. So, I was just concentrating on getting up the hill, not looking to the top. At the top, there is a sharp curve that goes around some brush. When I got around the curve, about 20 feet in front of me, frozen and staring at me, was a young-ish whitetail buck. After a second or so, he turned down the path and started running away. So, I started up running again behind him. Then he veered to the right and over a wire fence. I took a few more steps and turned around. In the field where he probably came from was a doe, staring intently at me. Then, I looked over to where the buck had gone and noticed he had two little ones with him. I was far enough away, but the doe wasn't taking any chances. She very cautiously moved bit by bit toward her family. Eventually, she too jumped the fence and the family was reunited and they headed off across the field. It was breathtaking. There are often deer and deer tracks in this area, but I've never encountered them so closely! It was amazing and invigorating!
That actually did pick me up some. I was starting to drag and was wondering if I would make my goal. But seeing those deer gave me a second wind. On the street that the path leads to, I ran right by a dead racoon. Not quite as exciting as the live deer! Ha!
It turns out that in those 1:30, I ran 7.73 miles. Considering I stopped for about 4 minutes to watch the deer, I don't think that is that bad. I used 160 and 159bpm podcasts today.
Tomorrow will definitely be a day to rest. In addition to the run today, I spent around 7 hours at an amusement park with family and friends. Of course that included a lot of walking and even some running after kids!
1 bunny
4 deer
Showing posts with label deer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deer. Show all posts
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, August 30, 2009
10k!!!!!
Despite not being able to get my 30 minute interval run in on Wednesday due to rain, I went out for my long run today. I was aiming for 6 miles.
It was a sunny, 48F morning. Rather chilly for shorts, but perfect for a run. I warmed up rather quickly and really enjoyed the run. I tried a different path today. I noticed I reached the track at almost exactly one mile. That was helpful for the end of my run. At the track, I ran a few laps, synching my Garmin's laps. It was right on. 0.25 miles per lap. As I was running the loops, I was reminded of PE class in high school. My first teacher wanted us to run 1.5 miles around our track. I decided that was something I didn't want to do... COULDN'T do. I certainly couldn't at that moment, but I thought I just couldn't. I wasn't made to run and no matter how hard I tried I wouldn't be able to do it. So, I switched PE teachers! Looking back, that was probably a bad idea. It would have been great if I could have challenged myself and worked up to the 1.5 miles. There were two problems: 1) I was self conscious about how I looked when I ran, so I didn't want t try and 2) the teacher didn't want us to take any walking breaks. How could I have worked up to 1.5 miles without using walking breaks or starting at a shorter distance? Anyway, I completed my 1.5 miles (6 laps) this time and continued on!
On part of the run, I ran in the grass. In the morning, grass is WET. So, now my feet are, too. I find that unless the grass is freshly cut, it tends to be too long for me to run in. I have to pick up my feet so high, especially due to the dew. Also, the ground is very uneven in places and I have to watch out. My ankles are pretty weak and I'm afraid of injuring them. Some of the grass had tracks worn in, though, which kept the grass short and the ground more or less level. That was nice. I chose that over the asphalt when possible.
As I was nearing the track again, I decided to run a lap or two until I was at 5 miles, so the mile home would put me at 6 miles. As I rounded one end into the sun, I looked up and about 30 yards in front of me were three deer grazing and watching me. Wonderful!! As I looped around a second time, they were still there. I must not be too scary.
Right as I got home, I hit 6.2 miles and came to a stop. It took about 1:12! Well under my goal of 1:30. A very satisfying run!
I had been worried that my knee would give me problems. It has been feeling slightly funny for the past several days. But, no problems at all. My joints and muscles weren't as sore this time compared to last week's long run.
Just under a month until the 10k race!! I definitely know I can run the distance if I don't go too fast!
It was a sunny, 48F morning. Rather chilly for shorts, but perfect for a run. I warmed up rather quickly and really enjoyed the run. I tried a different path today. I noticed I reached the track at almost exactly one mile. That was helpful for the end of my run. At the track, I ran a few laps, synching my Garmin's laps. It was right on. 0.25 miles per lap. As I was running the loops, I was reminded of PE class in high school. My first teacher wanted us to run 1.5 miles around our track. I decided that was something I didn't want to do... COULDN'T do. I certainly couldn't at that moment, but I thought I just couldn't. I wasn't made to run and no matter how hard I tried I wouldn't be able to do it. So, I switched PE teachers! Looking back, that was probably a bad idea. It would have been great if I could have challenged myself and worked up to the 1.5 miles. There were two problems: 1) I was self conscious about how I looked when I ran, so I didn't want t try and 2) the teacher didn't want us to take any walking breaks. How could I have worked up to 1.5 miles without using walking breaks or starting at a shorter distance? Anyway, I completed my 1.5 miles (6 laps) this time and continued on!
On part of the run, I ran in the grass. In the morning, grass is WET. So, now my feet are, too. I find that unless the grass is freshly cut, it tends to be too long for me to run in. I have to pick up my feet so high, especially due to the dew. Also, the ground is very uneven in places and I have to watch out. My ankles are pretty weak and I'm afraid of injuring them. Some of the grass had tracks worn in, though, which kept the grass short and the ground more or less level. That was nice. I chose that over the asphalt when possible.
As I was nearing the track again, I decided to run a lap or two until I was at 5 miles, so the mile home would put me at 6 miles. As I rounded one end into the sun, I looked up and about 30 yards in front of me were three deer grazing and watching me. Wonderful!! As I looped around a second time, they were still there. I must not be too scary.
Right as I got home, I hit 6.2 miles and came to a stop. It took about 1:12! Well under my goal of 1:30. A very satisfying run!
I had been worried that my knee would give me problems. It has been feeling slightly funny for the past several days. But, no problems at all. My joints and muscles weren't as sore this time compared to last week's long run.
Just under a month until the 10k race!! I definitely know I can run the distance if I don't go too fast!
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