Hi All,

Sunday, 4/1 to Saturday, 4/7: 31.2 miles

An uptick in my weekly mileage due to the Spring Forward 15K last Sunday and today's CATS Leo Austin Memorial Half Marathon.

I ran two zoo runs up at work this week. Tuesday's run was excellent; it was about 40F, I was dressed exactly right and I ran a 7:40 pace. Thursday's run was OK, it was about 22F with a headwind coming back and I ran a 8:01 pace.

Today the conditions for the half marathon was definitely chilly, around 25F with no wind at the start. I dressed for the cold with two T-shirts and my wind jacket and pants. I definitely appreciated my hat and mittens. Somehow, the Mendon hills didn't seem as steep the second time around. I kept a steady pace and didn't really walk very much, just a little on some hills after the 8 mile mark. I didn't have any kick at the end, the finish just popped up all of a sudden. I finished 38th in 1:50:45, a 8:27 mile pace. I bettered my previous PR by 9:06. Right now, my legs are quite beat and I could use a nap.

Results are at: http://grtconline.org/2007Results/2007CatsHalf.html

But stuff needs to get done. I have to go see my father at the nursing home. Plus my youngest son, David, is in the hospital recovering from a severe case of mono. So I have been bouncing around for the past few days.

I stopped to give a friend a happy 50th birthday hug. I would never give anyone black balloons for their birthday. A birthday is not a negative event, but a positive one.

Keep running, Doug