The Morning Run

Last week, K (my running friend) and I decided that we would try running in the morning instead of the evening. It's hard for both of us to get out of the house at night (our kids give us grief) and we thought we'd have better luck first thing in the morning. Of course, we made this decision at 7:30 on a Wednesday night, which is completely different from deciding such a thing at 6:30 on a Wednesday morning.

Sadie had been up a few times in the night, so I was already awake when the alarm when off (the second time in four years that I've set an alarm) at 5:45. K and I met on the corner at 6, and we hadn't run a step when we decided that this was the LAST time we would run in the morning. Seriously, running in the morning is for the BIRDS. We had a decent enough run (though I have no idea what our pace looked like), but I didn't quite have enough time to get ready for work. And I definitely didn't have time to stretch, which is becoming a regular problem lately. I seem to be developing plantar fascitis and have also been experiencing other nagging stuff (sore knee, sore hamstring), so the no stretching thing is not such a good idea. But when it comes down to being crunched for time (and when doesn't it?), stretching is the first thing to go.

I had done a four-mile run Tuesday evening at 5:00 (which was another issue since running at 5 P.M. and then running again at 6 A.M. didn't leave me nearly enough time for recovery, which would ideally be 24 hours), so I was stiff throughout much of this morning's run. Last night's run was a tempo effort--one mile warm up, two miles at or below 9:30 (5K pace) and one mile cooldown. THAT was a good run. This morning's was kind of meh.

Anyhow, K and I typically run Wednesday evenings, and so we're going to go back to the night. But from a kid standpoint, morning running is definitely the way to go. I walked into the house, and Ella reported that she hadn't even realized I was gone. (Usually she gives me a pretty hard time about going running in the evening.) Of course, Sadie reported that she'd missed me terribly, but I don't think she knew I was gone either.

I do feel energized now, but my heels also hurt and my muscles are tight.

Miles so far this week:
7

On tap for the rest of the week:
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 3 miles (probably intervals)
Saturday: 3 miles
Sunday: 8 miles

Total planned mileage for this week:
21