Funny story from this afternoon’s five-mile run.
I downloaded the Magic 92.5 app on my smartphone before the run. Magic 92.5 is an Old School music station out of San Diego that has pretty killer cuts. So I had that on as a soundtrack, along with Coach Chris Bennett’s Five Mile guided run on my Nike Run Club app. I joined the Cedar Prairie Trial near the dog park and headed north.
Magic 92.5 was spinning “Written All Over Your Face” by the Rude Boys f/ Gerald LeVert and just at the moment where LeVert belted out “Going to the bridge! THE BRIDGE BABY,” I rounded the corner of the trail and saw the Waterloo Bridge, which is roughly the halfway point of the run. I let out an audible “HA!” because I actually was going to a bridge.
Today I achieved a personal record on my five mile runs. I improved my time to 46:59. Average pace was 9:24. Splits were 9:18, 9:09, 9:20 (the dreaded midway lax struck again apparently), 9:36, and 9:36.
By comparison, last week (June 7) I ran this same route at 48:10 with a 9:38 average pace. It was only 72 degrees out but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and, even with my 8:30 starting time, it was already muggy out. Today’s run started at about 2 p.m. and even though temperatures were fluctuating between 69-71, there was virtually no humidity. The sky was overcast and it was spitting rain at the beginning of the run to the point were I took my Singlespeed running cap. Wind was an issue at some points. Gusts in Black Hawk County were being reported at 35-40 mph. Fortunately, I did not experience anything like that but there was a stretch near the University Ave. Roundabout by the Route 58 underpass where I thought my hat was going to blow off.
Honestly, though, I wasn’t trying for records today. Since Monday’s eight-mile drudgery, I have been concentrating more on breathing and running contained. Wednesday’s 5K was successful. Today, breathing and control were mostly good but there were parts on the back portion of the run where I did feel myself get ever-so-slightly out of sorts. I simply pulled myself back and continued.
Next run will be tomorrow. 3 miles. Planning an early morning run.
319 Iowa Runner 