A Great Day for a Run ...

Saturday saw a break in the cold rainy pattern around the Seattle area.  Since I am still recovering from Chuckanut I didn't have any grandiose running plans for Saturday, except accompanying SGF on her first ever 5k, which actually was pretty grandiose in unto itself ...  Friday night, came an email from Bob Muk (ESNW).  Bob was inviting people to support an ultra runner, Kevin D, as he runs 100 miles around Greenlake in Seattle, WA, by coming out in the eery morning hours for a lap or two with Kevin.  I figured if I woke up I would go.  And I did wake-up, at about 2:50 am ... Was a great night for run.  A little chilly, some overcast, but still the stars shined on the lake.  We met up Kevin D. as he was about 50 miles in his goal, so 16-17 laps left to go to his goal.  I was really impressed, not only the distance was challenging but running laps around Greenlake is utterly boring.  Another runner accompanying Kevin, Jesse, explained to me that there is a reason to the madness:  running laps for so long so far toughens you up mentally.  Something to consider, maybe I could run a 50k around Greenlake ...  Greenlake has a paved loop around the lake for recreational users but we followed Kevin around the outer loop which has a softer track, compact dirt and grass.   Bob and I stayed for one loop, which was about 3.3 miles ...

 I am glad I came, very impressed with Kevin D, so much so I am inspired to do my own little ultra 50k run around the lake to challenge myself now  ... A 50k would take ten laps.  Maybe make it 11 for effects?  And if I could keep that average pace of 11 min/mile, the entire run would be about 6 hours ... A great confidence builder after my 8 hr 53 min Chuckanut run .... mmm ... definitely thinking about it now ...

After our loop with Kevin D we headed back.  I met up with SGF then SGF and I headed to the Armar Road trail head of the Centennial trail to do the Cupcake cake 5k fun Run/Walk.  SGF has been training hard to walk her first 5k and I was looking forward to walk it alongside her.  She did great, I am very proud of her.  Although I figured I would just walk the 5k along side her, I made it a little more challenging for me by jogging it backward instead!!

In the end the best part could be that I won first place male in the 5k ... By virtue of being the only male in the 5k.  For a minute I though I was getting the award for finishing first backwards eh eh ... But I'll take it, this may my only first place ever ...

Actually there is a reason for the madness of the 5k backward as well [besides providing a visual carrot to SGF] ...  My physical therapist suggested simple exercises to strengthen my backside, such as: swimming on my back, going backward on the elliptical machine or running backward.  Because the field of runners is quite small at the 5k I figured, why not, let's try jogging it backward.  And so I did ... The backward jogging felt good.  I felt like it relieved some of the tightness/pressure I feel in my right buttock.  I should remember to cooldown after my runs with a five minute jog backward on a regular basis, feels great [mental note!].

For good measure I jogged down tot he main intersection at 172nd and 67th, another 1.41 miles.  When all was said and done I realized that I ran in one direction or another (pun intended) like 8.0 mile.  Although non-consecutive this was still pretty cool, but way bad by recovery standard ... Can't help it though, I am addicted to running !