Miles 264.5-271.5: Long Distance Sunday

Yesterday morning James and I got up early; judging from my squinty eyes, you would think a little too early.

(Yes, I am shamelessly showing off my new watch like a freshly engaged schoolgirl. But James was also newly outfitted with his CamelBak. Running geeks, much?)

We dropped off our car at David and Glenna's house and we all headed to Raleigh to run in Umstead Park, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots. Why must you be 60 miles away when gas is $3.50/gallon?

With a prescription for 8 miles at an easy pace, the men headed off to run their hearts out on the Company Mill Trail while I took Glenna on a slightly less punishing route.

Slightly, being the key word.

Our average pace ended up being around 14:30, mainly owing to the final mile, which we walked. In actuality, our true average was closer to 13:30/mile. And running through the hilly (nearly 1000 feet in elevation gain - 200% more than pancake flat Goldsboro) woods in 86° weather while steam rose from the pineneedled path beneath our feet at that pace ain't too shabby for a long distance run.

And really, Sunday's run wasn't really about speed for me; it was about getting to run in a beautiful park with a good friend. A good friend who less than a year ago probably couldn't have walked the hilly seven miles we ran yesterday.

And while our husbands are equally fleet-footed, yesterday we dominated. We may have run slow, but we ran 7 miles; James and David ran balls-to-the-wall for 5.2 miles.

Miles 264.5-271.5: further proof that Sunday long-distance runs are always the best.