Nooner

Running on streets during daylight was a real shock to my system when I started with Abe's Army in 2005. I had been running, and before that I had been walking, in a lot of predawn hours when nobody could see me.

After I got going with Abe's Army, I eventually started running at noon. Working for LRS gives me access to health club facilities, including locker room and shower, so changing into running clothes and back to work clothes was no issue at all. Running by myself in full view of people was a bit of an issue.

But now it's no big deal at all. That's good, because today I left my desk around 10:30 to change and head out for an 8-mile run. EIGHT MILES! Yikes!

I've never attempted a run like that during a work day before. That's longer than what my Saturday long runs used to be. So how do you manage 8 miles at, um, lunch time?

Weeks ago I had a discussion with my manager about my training and the need I would have to disappear for a couple hours at a time. I said that I would either make up the extra time or take paid time off, so that wasn't an issue. His concern? He wanted to make sure somebody knew where I was in case something came up that needed to be dealt with. So I put the long run on my calendar in Outlook which is accessible to everyone, and I make sure the administrative assistant is aware of my bizarre plans.

And I stressed over food. I had oatmeal with peanut butter and a soy shake at 7 am, and then I ate a banana around 9. Plus I drank a lot of water this morning and slugged down some Gatorade.

The run itself was pretty nice. The temperature was around 40 with a wind out of the north that felt pretty cold when I was running into it. But the conditions were really the best they've been in weeks. I kinda looped through Washington Park, out on some side streets, and finished feeling pretty good. I chatted with older ladies I saw out walking their dogs and just tried to enjoy being out.

Quite a change from those early Abe's Army days.

I also stretched thoroughly after running. That's another advantage of having access to the LRS health club.

Tomorrow I have to do 4 miles. I wonder if THAT's going to be an adventure . . . . and I hope not.