I can't say enough wonderful things about today. I got to shut off my alarm, sleep in a bit and not be rushed out of bed. The weather was pretty decent by the time I was ready to run this morning so I took advantage of that and ran outside for the first time since the end of September! Yes, I said it. I know that there have been a handful of opportunities to run outside due to the very odd winter season we've been having. But in my defense, I get up super early to run, light and temperature are two issues for me..temperature more than anything. But, I finally have some new gear, so hopefully the weather will stay relatively decent and I'll be outside more.
I'm not even sure there is a word or words to describe how my run was today. I'm still speechless.. It was freakin' phenomenal! I don't know if it was just being outside running for the first time in what has seemed like forever, my new shoes, the fact that I slept a little longer, or the fact that the sun was shining..whatever it was it was AWESOME. In the 2yrs that I have been running, I have never had as good of a run (GREAT, I should say) as I had today. There are just no words..I finally got that HIGH. The ever elusive runner's high that some people experience alot, sometimes and some not at all. I've been there once before when I completed 10k (not a race, but on my own) but I have never experienced something like this. It was the "I can't stop talking about how great my run was, can't stop smiling, spring in my step, feel like I can conquer the world, saying yes to everything type of feeling. HIGH. And all from a fantastic run.
Today's schedule had me doing 3 miles. Well, I ended up doing 3.75 miles, and could have kept running for a few more miles at least..but I stopped at 3.75. My time/pace was the best it's ever been. I was a bit nervous going out for the first time in so long. I didn't want to get discouraged with a bad outside run. Thankfully, luckily I was the exact opposite of discouraged! My average overall pace was a 9:32/mile which is pretty damn good for me. I haven't been running that fast on Millie that's for sure. But I will give her credit for all of the months I've been running on her, doing fast walking at steep inclines, running intervals, etc..it's all paid off and definitely benefited me today. Even when running up a hill on my route that normally "gets" me..that totally didn't happen. I beasted that thing and made it my bitch! I owned this whole entire run. I didn't even feel like I was running as fast as I was, I didn't feel like I was "pushing myself" or having to push myself. I wasn't constantly looking at my watch or thinking to myself that I wished I'd have stayed inside. What I was thinking was that I was in complete awe of myself. Yes, it sounds like bragging, but screw it, I don't care. This run was THAT good. I was THAT good. Hell, I was great!
The only thing that would have made this run perfect was to have my running buddy with me. But, because I had such an awesome run..it did inspire him to go and get some for himself!
YAY!
It's so great when you get a run like that! What exactly is your temperature problem? For me here in the UK I always run better in winter as it's too hot in summer. I've tried early morning running but it has never really clicked for a variety of reasons so I stick to late afternoon/early evening mostly. I LOVE running in the dark!
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