3.5 run

I got up at 6am this morning to get ready for a longer run with a friend. I wanted to get the run in before it got too hot, supposed to be over 90 today and sunny. It has been a very mild summer so far here in Virginia. It is usually hazy, hot and humid most every day from May till September. But this year it has been fairly rainy all May and June and then not really even humid till a week or two ago. So I have been spoiled. I run consistently on my treadmill all spring but then I have to venture outside for my training for the 4 mile race I run every September. It is always a hard transition for me.

But this morning I ran with a friend and we did 3.5 miles in the relative shade of a dirt road. We ran this route last Saturday too, but added another .5 mile to work up to the 4 we need to run for the race. I have done the race 5 times already but usually have to run it by myself. I start with a friend but then feel the need to either go slower than the friend or faster than the friend. But this year, I have discovered a friend who runs my pace. She actually makes me run a little faster but she says she isn't sure about running as far. So maybe we'll even each other out. She'll make me go a little faster and I'll keep her going the whole 4 miles. At least this year's race will be more fun, getting to talk and have some company to keep me motivated. I am not internally motivated to complete a lot of things, not very competitive - only competitive with myself. I can celebrate what others accomplish without feeling like I need to do that too. Which makes it hard sometimes to get my sneakers laced and get out the door.

So, anyway, we ran almost 2.5 miles before we turned into a neighborhood to extend the run and saw the hill before us. I psyched myself out of running and slowed down to walk up the hill for about .2 miles. Then, when we got to the top we turned around and started running again, down the hill and continued to finish the 3.5 miles. I am proud of myself for only walking that little bit and being able to then finish the route without stopping again. Sometimes it is hard to keep going once I stop to walk. But having my friend with me to keep talking and getting my mind off what I was doing was a great blessing. We will run again another 2 or 3 times this week. Next week, 4 miles!