in a fog

chrisy's mom went home yesterday. she's been here the past week to help out because of baby gracie. i decided to hit up my long run a day early so i could do my shorter run this morning when it's just us. this put thursday's hard track day next to friday's two hour run. this coupled with the fact that thursday, with leading worship at high life, made for a really long day. i was so tired by the time i got home, i had not the strength for yoga. i started the long run a bit sore. but it was an exciting run nonetheless.

i finally got to venture on to those streets i use to run on before the fear of gracie coming tethered me to courses around my home. straight into downtown, riverfront park, over the west salem bridge, through wallace marine park. i found a new mulch path that was laid down last week. i could tell not many people had been on it. it was still really springy, inconsistent, and fairly bumpy at places.

i hit great times with surprisingly not that much effort. right on my 6:54's when i finally stopped the watch. the two truly glorious parts of the runs was looking into the fog hunkering low over the willamette, blocking the view south to minto brown park. the other was going up the steep incline at 12th street. when i finally crested the fairly large hill my watch read an average of 6:51's. and this was on the last half of my run.

i hit quite a few water fountains (as many as i could find) and i think that helped greatly.

by the time i got back home and started eating i noticed that i had some amazing runner's high. i've asked other people if they get this phenomenon. when they say yes, i ask them to describe it. they say that they feel like they are in a zone and can run forever. my high isn't like this at all. mine always happens when i stop running. i breathe in and i can feel the oxygen tingling through my throat, lungs, and even tickle my brain. the deeper i breathe the more intense. i've never used drugs, but perhaps this is a similar feeling. this high lasted into the afternoon. i love it when that happens.

i did get my yoga in last night. it was very essential. so many sore points. mainly i.t. band, gluets, and shins. especially the shins. i think it could be time to retire those shoes i did my long run in. or maybe just reserve them for shorter runs or warm ups and bush park.

this morning's six miles was less than glorious for the first half. really achy for that first mile. primarily felt a slow burn in my left hamstring. i circled around schirle elementary school on the mulch path for two miles. then went up to the high school to work a few on the track. i wanted to stay on really soft ground today for healing. unfortunately the football team was working there so i just circled through some neighborhoods. i felt much stronger on the second half. hit my times right on though: 6:54's.

i've been craving sweets for the past two days and almost cheated on my diet yesterday with a secret roth's donut. those cake ones with the white icing and green sprinkles where calling to me. i had to pass by them close twice because i forgot the avocados. which, by the way, i actually like now. at least in burritos. my quest to like all whole foods is one step closer.

today also marks the most miles i've ever put in a week: 72. and if i can do it on a crazy week like this, with little sleep, and sore muscles, i am confident i can do more.