Whoa! Did You See That Girl Go Flying By?

No? You missed her? Is it because she was going so fast in her mis-matched running skirt and top? I bet it was just a blur of blond hair, right?  

Well that girl you just got buzzed by - that was ME!  I am fast!  ;)

Okay, I was fast on one run. Maybe it is because I just had 5" of hair chopped off so I'm lighter? Yes, that must be it.

Mommy, Arwyn, and Me - it was very Steel Magnolias of us!

So here's the short story:  Tuesday I didn't run because I was just run down and tired. I covered 5 different jobs at work that day, including sitting by the judge in the court room and helping out in Traffic Court. (FYI, I work in Finance. Not court. I'm such a multi-tasker!)  Last night after my pre-Jimmy Buffett/vacation hair appointment I decided to do my Tuesday night run.

As per usual, I thought I was starting off on a nice slow, warm-up pace. Looked down ...my pace about 9:15. I tried to slow it down just a hair, but I thought why try to be too much over 10:00 if my goal is to get faster and this is going to be a short run anyway?  I think the first mile was done in 9:38. Not my fastest, but still fast for me! I didn't slow down. I thought, "Let's just see what we can do in 2 miles!"  So I just went for it. It was hard to get used to breathing a lot harder, but my legs were feeling fantastic. 

It was close to 10pm at this point, so the streets were empty. October 13, 2010 now marks my most nerve-wracking run. We know that I tend to have an active imagination and "fantasize" about serial killers chasing after me when I'm running. Well with about .25 left to run I heard a noise behind me. I whipped my head around as fast as I could and there was a man. Hairy, dark clothing, messy looking. He's riding a bike with no light. And he isn't riding at a normal pace at all. It was far too slow and far too creepy. I mean I pretty much was running faster than he was once he came up behind me. That shot my adrenaline up a TON. I was right in front of a close friend's house, so I knew if I had to get help before this bicyclist left me for dead, at least help was right there. A little neighborhood park borders my friend's house, so without missing a beat I jumped through the plants, ran across the grass, jumped back over the plants to the next street and continued on my way. Woo hoo - I ditched "Buffalo Bill" again!

That little rush helped me get to 2 miles .... in .... wait for it......  nineteen minutes, twenty seconds. Yes, that's right 19:20 for 2 miles! That is HUGE!!!! My best 2 mile pace, EVER!!

That elusive sub 30 minute 5K is getting closer and closer!

I also have to send some Thanks to Lesley -- this was a comment she left on a blog once: You just have to really suck it up and tell yourself the whole time "this is over in 30 minutes, just GO". I am fully confident you can pull it off.  That was running through my mind last night as I was daring to tackle a fast second mile. Apparently it helped, so Thanks a Bunch!!