Racing against myself

I've been sort of grumpy (gf would say VERY grumpy) and kicking myself for not being able to PR at 5k on Saturday. Apparently, I am racing against my 2008 self. The last time I PR'd at 5k was 2008, when I was 40, and now 44 1/2 y.o. me can't keep up. I could come up with excuses like these: it was hot, I've gained 10 lbs, I had surgery 6 months ago, just transitioned to the really-barefoot shoes, no speed work at all since oh 2008... But really? I think it's that I crossed some invisible boundary between "back then" and "now." I didn't think over the hill would come quite so soon.

In retaliation against the inevitable, I ran 14 miles yesterday. If I can't go fast, I'm gonna go long. Including water stops, checking on the dog, chatting with J & C who got to run with me & gf for the first part of the run, it took about 2 1/2 hours. A little lurching through the rest of the day and a little creaky today, but not bad for an old broad.

Minnesota thinks it's spring

Despite the calendar, which clearly proclaims that it's Pi Day.

Wait wait, it was fun!

Mark this day on the calendar for me. Running was fun this morning! For the entire 5 miles! The last time? Well...it was last September, the morning that Lumpy was evicted. So yeah, I haven't actually had fun while running in six months. It's been ok sometimes, tolerable other times, bearable on a few occasions, and lots of times it was just completely unfun.

Might this have something to do with my new shoes? (Moc3 by Soft Star Shoes.) I just got them nearly half off in their clearance sale. There's not much to them: 2 mm of Vibram soling glued to a thin layer of leather footbed. They are sort of an update of the RunAMocs I was wearing all last year (which I put through about 600 miles including a marathon). No ties, fit better to the foot, and a lining on the upper so that dirt & little rocks don't get in through the perforated leather. Love, love, love them!

Tonks didn't run a 10 mile race today

But still seems pretty tired. It was crazy windy and already 46 this morning when gf & I headed over to Lake Harriet for the 100% Irish for a Day 10 mile race. If it had been colder, we would have frozen in those 20 mph gusts off the lake(s). For having a thousand some people running the 10 mile and who knows how many running the 5k that started just after we did, this was pretty well organized. As I was running, I wasn't actually having fun. It was only fun when I was done. Oh well. Not every race can be fun, I guess. Next week I have another green-themed race, a 5k this time. I'm holding out for fun.