This is not a post about quality booze or friendly ghosts, just good spirits in the happy sense.

Yesterday’s weather was gorgeous, a Spring-like 52 degrees, so I broke out the capris and made it my LR day.  I was being silly about getting out there, though.  With 17 on tap, I just wasn’t wanting to do it at all but I had a chick potluck party to go to and had to be done with the run in time to buy something to bring (because I’m not a cooking contributor in situations like these, too lazy).

Finally got my ass out there with the plan to make it all easy miles, though I took it to the trails so at least there’d be some level of hills and footwork, better than my usual easy jaunt around the river.  But once I got to the trail system (mile 5.5), a really sweet girl I had passed caught up to me while I waited at the street crossing, and said something about “fast” and gave me the thumbs up before running on.  I couldn’t hear it all because I had my headphones on, but I was so surprised by this unexpected niceness that it gave me a sudden shot of energy.

In the trails, I plowed (or ploughed) – either way…I pushed.  It was great fun and I was doing low 8s going uphill, sub 8s down, despite the gravel and ice patches still on the ground.  Even added an extra 1/2 mile to the turnaround to make it an 18-miler.  Once back on the road (mile 12.5), I kept up the pace through mile 16, then slowed back down to normal.  Ended up with 18@8:18 avg.  After 8 easy in a couple hours, I’ll have a 63-mile week.

I won’t lie, between this and last cycle, I’m having a hard time living with my decision to take it easier, though not enough to actually do something about it.  I mean, I’m not exactly sitting on my ass eating bonbons, and maybe it’s because I’m not doing Pfitz, Daniels or Hudson (Marathon Race Training Forum’s favorite sons) that I feel a little off-kilter.  On the other hand, I’m running harder 2 times a week, got my MLR and LR, which is basically what every marathon plan calls for anyway.

I guess it’s my active imagination wondering what I’m going to feel like when I see that Citgo sign in the distance.  Will I be dying?  Will I be surprised that I feel good?  How I can have a better race not busting my butt as hard as last time?  But last time sucked, so is this easier approach the gold?  Man, I sure wish I had a crystal ball.

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