Ungraceful

Time:  20 minutes
Distance:  1.87 miles
Location:  Apple Valley to Sitting Bull

Tonight's run was tough.  After the soreness I was feeling in my feet during yesterday's run, I figured I'd need to take it a little easier tonight.  I wavered back and forth between lowering the time to 20 minutes or just doing a single mile.  In the end, I decided I need distance training more than anything, and running one mile, even if it takes me 9:00, just isn't enough of an endurance workout.  But not only my feet but my lower legs were bothering me today.  My knees felt achy, and the soreness I felt yesterday in my ankles had moved up to my calves.  As soon as I started stretching I knew it wasn't going to be an easy night.

I set out to run down to Sitting Bull and back, a good, simple route.  As soon as I began my run, though, those aches and pains kicked in.  My legs felt stiff and I could barely get an open stride going.  I felt like I was power walking more than running (ugh).  After about half a mile things got a little better.  The run down Apple Valley Rd. was decent, as my legs loosened up a bit and I was able to run a little more smoothly.  But the aches came back intermittently.  I clumsily made my way back to the house.  When 20 minutes was up I had covered 1.87 miles, which was definitely slower than I've been averaging.  Tomorrow is a rest day and I can only hope it will be enough.  I want to get back into it on Wednesday, but the way I felt tonight, I don't know if one day off will be enough.  It's going to have to work, though.