I have no idea how to title this post!

Yesterday I purchased a new Gymboss. It's been a while since I've owned one. Now it not only has an interval timer but a stopwatch and a clock. Nifty.

Last night I set it up in anticipation of using it today. (Spoiler alert: I was successful in setting it up).

The challenge was deciding what intervals to use. I want to do one mile run; one minute walk for the OCNJ Half. It's a strategy that's worked for me in the past. However, running the streets of Media I have no mile markers. I have a good sense of a mile in my neighborhood but that's not good enough right now.

In my best running days I could manage under an 11 minute mile. My best running days are way behind me at the moment. If I keep smiling and keep moving long enough they might also be ahead of me. However, getting too far ahead of oneself is not a good way to train. 12 minute miles was my 'normal' back then. So I decided on 13 and 1 for today. This means that on a good training day I will go farther then a mile before taking a break. (Spoiler Alert: My sense of how long a mile is around Media tells me that today was a good training day. :) That's ok with me. It's better to run longer and slower for training. I also set the 1 minute interval for the first interval. It makes sense to me to start out walking. And on race day with all the people and the tendency to start out too fast in the crowd it will be good to start with a walk interval. And yes I just realized I'm talking like someone committed to doing the race. At the very least I'm committed to giving it my best shot. Registration opens February 1st.

My second walk came about a quarter of the way up Edgmont Avenue. This reminded me that a walk interval could come in the middle of the either side of the Longport Bridge on race day. Stopping the running motion and starting up again there will not be fun. Note to self: Practice walk breaks at the beginning and middle of hills.

I left the house around 7:15ish - as soon as it was light enough to see and be seen. There were quite a few other runners out. Including a pair in elf costumes. I had the company of the trolley along State Street as well as shop owners getting ready for the last Saturday shopping day before Christmas.

In other *news* this week, my pen ran out of ink. I used it from beginning to end without losing it or having it borrowed and not returned. It's the little things that keep life interesting.

Keep smiling Keep Moving
-Paula