Day 244: Less than Perfect, But it’s Okay

False alarm! I’m not sick, but I think I have been fighting something.

Thursday, I was not 100%, but definitely felt better than I did on Wednesday. Since I didn’t run on hump day, I knew I’d have to make up some mileage. The plan was to run the six I missed…at night.

I don’t like running in the dark. And, nighttime is so much scarier to me than early morning. It’s so much darker. I feel like all the bad guys are out. There are a lot more cars driving around. I can’t see the ground and am afraid I will hurt myself.

Plus, it’s hard to take self-portraits for blogging purposes.

I took off on my loop through town, which is about 1.5 miles. I was planning on doing the loop four times. It was still twilight, so the first loop wasn’t bad except toward the end when it was darker. I did enjoy the sound of croaking frogs. And I also love to run by the Dairy Queen when there are a bunch of people in line. I like to imagine they think twice about their order when they see someone running by.

But I didn’t like running under this one line of treese where there aren’t any street lights. I worried I was going to get a twig in an eye, so I slowed down till I was safely through.

Then, I passed the house with the chain-link fence and the big, barking dogs. I know they aren’t going to get me, but it’s still frightening when they charge the fence. “Hi, puppies. Hi, puppy dogs,” I said to make myself feel better.

After I finished the first loop, the negotiating began. Maybe I’ll just do one more loop. Three miles is good, isn’t it? I’m supposed to take it easy before a race, right?

I decided to wait till I was finished with the second loop to make up my mind. Half way through it, though, I got a side ache and knew it was because I was thirsty. I drank 64 ounces of water Thursday, but I think I needed more since I was running so late in the day.

It was really dark now, and I slowed under the trees again, ducking my head. No dogs this time. But I still could not relax. I completed the second loop, pushing myself to keep running.

But now I had two side aches and my shoulder blades hurt (I think because I was so tense). I ran the lit part of my loop and back to complete four miles, thinking I could stick it out for two more miles in and out of cul-de-sacs in my neighborhood.

After one, though, I stopped running. I wanted to go home. See Mr. T. Have dinner. Drink water. So I did. (And I had a two glasses of water and a glass of lemon+lime Nuun with my ham and cheese Lean Pocket.)

Oh well. I’m running 13.1 on Sunday, so I’m not worried about it.

3/18/10 – 4.1 Miles – 41:09
Average pace: 10:01
Mile 1: 9:57
Mile 2: 10:10
Mile 3: 10:02
Mile 4: 9:55