Running through runoff

Not fully healthy yet but needed to get a run in. Today was an awesome day to do it. First warm (for winter time anyway) day in a while. Sunny, not very windy and warm. So aside from coughing once in while and not feeling fully up to par, it was a good return. I felt I was running at a slow pace but the app says it was a 11:07 pace. Still faster than the regular pace I am working towards. I figure if I can get used to running at a good 12 min pace I should be able to start working on the mileage I want. What I want is to hit the 50 mile mark by the end of the year at the latest. Maybe sooner if I can help it.

I do plan to stick with the idea of no races this year. Gonna suck cause I will be missing one of my favorite buddy run races. The Brew2Brew in Kansas City. A wonderful 44.4 mile run from downtown KC, MO to Lawrence, KS. It can be done as a solo run or as a team. I've only done the team thing and had a blast every time. Big party/recovery event after in a very neat part of town. The people that run this are also a big part of what makes it fun. The serious teams out for new PRs, the not so serious teams (like mine) out for a good run and fun with friends. A number of teams even come in costumes. Another race I will miss this year is the Hospital Hill Half Marathon. Labeled as one of the oldest half marathons in the country and the oldest in KC. It is a fun and popular run and had hoped to achieve another PR for a half but I will settle for a unofficial PR this year. Ran it in huaraches last year shaving 20 min off my previous time, looking to do a half barefoot now.

But I digress, frustrations and stress have built up over the time I had been sick and unable to get out. It was really frustrating as we had fresh snow come down and was really eager to make fresh tracks. There is something relaxing about running through fresh snow in the crisp air. Seems to place all the worries on the back burner where they belong. Few people are ever out when the snow is falling which seems to help with the relaxation part. Its those periods when I am able to just step away from worry and stress and live in the now. A couple runs ago I came across a coyote and we had a little race along the trail. He/she won of course, but it was fun. Those events whether coyote, deer, rabbit, or whatever, really make help to make the run worthwhile. Memorable. Calming. Cathartic.

I think thats all for now. Thanks for reading.