What a great day to run in Austin, TX. Temps at 6:00 AM about 48 degrees. Lynn and I drove down to Townlake at the Austin HS tennis court parking lot and met Karen F, Tam, Duke, Steve S, and Rick B. Karen H has the flu so she took the weekend off, figuring Boston is only 2 weeks away and no reason to tempt fate by running when she was not up to it. Lynn did her People Bridge walk while the rest of us took off on the 10 mile Longhorn Dam loop.
After the first 4 miles we ran race pace for 3 miles. We did this because our Boston training schedule showed us with a 5K race for today, so Karen and I figured a 3 mile race pace in the middle of our 15 mile run would fill that requirement. I led the group and ran a 7:04 for the first mile, then mile 2 started up and over the Longhorn Dam and up over by the Power Plant. Those hill sections took a little toll and I finished mile 2 at 7:31, a little disappointed, so I pushed it hard for the 3rd mile that finished just as we went under I-35. I did the 3rd mile in 6:59 which was much more satisfying. Then I headed back to meet Karen and Tam as they came in running hard about 2:30 behind me. Then Duke and Steve came in. A very satisfying run today which was 4 seconds faster than I did this a few weeks ago.
Then we finished the 10 mile loop, losing Tam and Duke along the way as Tam basically walked the rest of the way. Karen had run him into the ground on the 3 mile push. Then Karen F and I did the 5 mile Congress Avenue loop finishing a great morning of running. Boston, here I come.
Then we went over to Maudie's for breakfast tacos (potatoes, eggs, and cheese). Karen F brought her god-daughter, Taylor who is visiting for a few days. As we sat there eating our breakfast, Jessie James (of the motorcycle shows on TV) came in and sat down to breakfast two tables away from us. We didn't bother him, but Lynn sure thought it was cool, as she likes to see the motorcycle chop shop shows on TV. Our son, PD, just bought a Buell Lightening sport bike. A fun day. | 