"Missed my Cutoff!

So this was my long run plan today. I'm sure I've told you before that I have lots of options when it comes to route planning for long runs. Today I decided I was going to do blocks of 14.4kms, 10.4kms, 7.4kms for a total of 32.2kms, and if I was still felt ok I would do the little psych loop at the end which would bring me close to 35kms. Well the first loop went fine.... so much so that I changed my plan and decided to repeat it, and then maybe do the 7.4 loop. The problem is when it came time to make the turn, I couldn't find it. Namely becuas it was probably a kilometer behind me. I don't think I have ever before actually missed a planned cutoff in all my running years. So I thought what the hell, just keep going and turn at the next intersection. As a result the loop turned into 21.4kms and yet I still felt good enough near the end to do the psych loop. Fortunatley the first time past the aid station(our mailbox) I had a good long drink of my energy solution, as well as lots of water. My total run was a very satisfying 38.4kms in 3 hours, 29 minutes.

And the best part of the whole experiemce. I made several new friends along the way. Six to be exact....everyone of them with a tail and four legs. There was only one however that made me a little nervous and not for very long. I don't know why, but dogs don't generally scare me too much. In the last 15 years I really only had one really scary situation, and I think today I would have handled it differently. My problem is that I don't want to stop running when chased and yet that is generally the best thing you can do until they lose interest. I only walked for about 10 seconds today before the barker headed back home.

Anyway, it's good to know that my run endurance continues to improve. I felt very good still at the end, and could have kept on going. I am definitely at, or beyond the fitness level I was when I ran my last marathon in 2005. The first race of the season is coming up fast. Just 6 weeks to the 30k Around the Bay Race in Hamilton, which for me will be an intense training run. Brett is doing it with me.

Speaking of which, him and Teresa should be heading up the mountain by now....Kilimanjaro that is. I hope all goes well with them. Can you shout at us from up there Teresa? And don't fall in the crater!

I wsih to dedicate day 152 to Roos nephew Leon Regnier IV. I don't know him but I know his mother, and as such have very high hopes for him

"If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around."---Will Rogers

"I loathe people who keep mean dogs. They are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves."---Anon

love
peter