Long 5 or Short 5

I know 5 is 5 is 5 but mentally there are differences. Today I debated which route to take. The 'short' 5 is more compact in reference to my home so it feels shorter. It's also a flatter route. The 'long' 5 spreads out more away from home and has many more up and down hills. It just feels longer.
All day the skies were overcast and threatening to storm. Had it remained that way when I got home the decision would have been easy; the short 5 so that I could cut of quickly and head for cover should the storm materialize. But no, on the way home from work the skies cleared. So I opted for the long 5. Tomorrow the forecast is for more stormy weather so who knows what I will have a chance to do outdoors. Might as well do what I could while I could.
Considering the humidity and 85 degrees it wasn't a bad run. I did have to walk along a piece of Orange Street. I've run there before and it was fine, however, after getting into the middle of it I remembered that was probably on a weekend morning early, not at 5:30. Traffic was heavy and the winding road made me uncomfortable. So I walked about a 1/4 mile to get past that rough spot.

Phillyfit Week three

It's USAFIT-Philly this year. I really should try to get used to that.

Today, I met Angie at 7:45 for a quick 3 miles. Angie is faster than I and I pushed to keep up with her. I was breathing hard but felt pretty good after. The rest of the group gathered at 8:30 and we went for another, easier 4 miles with them. My knee was a tiny bit sore in the last 1/2 mile but it quickly went away when I stopped running.

It's nice not being one of the new kids on the block. I feel good being able to encourage some of the newbies. Having been strictly a walker before joining last year and making it to the marathon I find myself being able to offer a lot of positive and realistic encouragement.

I had recently decided to run on Sundays after our long run Saturdays but I may not get to that tomorrow. We have plans to go into the city to watch the bike race. There will be a fair amount of walking at least.

I registed for the Philly Distance Run (9/20) and the Ben Franklin Bridge 10K (11/1) today. I'll get to the Philly Half (11/22) later; spread the hits to my credit card out a bit and also Helen was going to try to get us all a discount code.

Doreen wants us to join her for a Tex-Mex 5k on June 24th in Bucks County. I'm debating. I've go the Media Five Mile on June 19th. I guess I could treat the 5k as a mid week run and have some fun since there are others I know going to it.... but I don't want to go crazy with race fees....

I'll decide later this week.

New York Marathon

"They" say everyone should run this one if they get the chance. You have to run for charity or get lucky in the marathon lottery to participate. There is something about running through the 5 boroughs that is special. The people, the language and cultures. Maybe someday.

A NYT writer is chroncling marathon preparation for the year's race. Here's the link.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/marathon/

Rainy days...

... and thunderstorms threatening so I went to the gym tonight. I finished a total of 4.3 on the treadmill. 3.3 starting at 10:46 and increasing speed to 10:00 through the first 3, then 9:16 for the last .3. Then I walked on an incline for .5 and finished the last .5 at 10:00.

I am pretty sure the treadmill speeds are not the same as outside but I don't know how to convert so it is what it is.

3 miles on the river

I was in Harrisburg, PA Sunday night through tonight for buisness stuff. I met a friend this morning for a run along the Susquehanna River. I am not generally a morning runner. Although it would be much nicer in the summer, I have trouble convincing myself to get out of bed to run unless others are waiting for me. I did it this morning becuase Terry was expecting me in the lobby of our hotel at 6 am.

We ran a total of 3 miles out and back from the Walking Bridge (to City Island) to Maclay Street. It was a nice run. I felt good and probably could have done a bit more but my friend didn't seem up for it so I said I was ok with 3. I'd rather have the friendship than the miles in this case.

I really do wish I could get motivated to get up earlier even on my own. Maybe I'll try again soon as summer weather is here. Not tomorrow though. I am back home again and really tired. Two days of meetings is tiring. It's weird how sitting around in meeting s all day can wear you out. It's the lack of real air in those rooms I think. I will try to get to the gym (if it storms as expected) or run out side tomorrow after work.