First Runs of Spring

Almost done with the first two weeks of training and things are going great so far.  Here are my last three runs:

Date:  Saturday, 22 March 2014
Distance:  2.03 miles
Time:  22:00
Location:  Yucca Loma Rd.

This was a fun run.  It was another stroller run with Nathan.  It was Saturday morning and we had some time to kill, so instead of waiting till night to run, I laced up in the bright of morn, put Nay in the stroller and headed out while Deborah prepared lunch.  The weather was perfect, in the 60s, and Nathan had a blast.  We ran up Coachella to Yucca Loma and then straight across all the way to the river (where construction on a bridge is currently underway).  We retraced our steps on the way back and, though it was a slow pace, I felt pretty good the whole time.  I could definitely feel the strain in my arms pushing the stroller, especially towards the end, but it wasn't nearly as hard as the first stroller run on Wednesday.  It was awesome running in the late morning of a temperate spring day.  And I liked getting my run out of the way early on, too.

Date:  Monday, 24 March 2014
Distance:  1.53 miles
Time:  14:55
Location:  Yucca Loma just past Apple Valley Rd.

On Monday night I had a nice, easy 1.5 mile run.  Even though it was only Monday I was already feeling tired and stressed from work, so I was kind of glad it was a short run.  I ran it hard, though, keeping my pace under 10 min./mile (nothing to brag about but better than it's been).  I ran up to Yucca Loma and just a little past the gas station on Apple Valley, right before Yucca Loma starts going uphill.  I know I need to work on increasing my endurance and distances, but sometimes these short runs just feel great. 

Date:  Friday, 28 March 2014
Distance:  2.53 miles
Time:  25:34
Location:  Yucca Loma-Apple Valley-Sitting Bull-Ottawa

Tonight's run was awesome!  I hadn't run since Monday for a few reasons: work has been wearing me down and stressing me out, and the weather was kind of nasty Wednesday and Thursday.  I was actually ready to run Thursday night but the wind picked up and it was blowing like crazy across the desert, with temps dropping on top of it all.  I shouldn't be deterred by the weather, after all I ran when it was 39° back in February.  But it got the best of me this week.  However, it all worked out in the end when today ended up being picture perfect!  No wind and sunny all day.  When I set out on my run at around 7:45pm it was a comfortable 66°.  I tried a slightly new route, heading up to Yucca Loma then taking Apple Valley all the way down to Sitting Bull.  The Apple Valley running path is my favorite and it's nice to get to stay on it for long distances.  And I felt great on this whole run!  I guess four days off really helped.  I never felt overly tired and I even had enough in the tank for a good kick at the end (which hasn't happened in a long while).  My pace as usual was slow but I ran strong, with lots of bounce in my legs.  I watched twilight fade to night as I ran and smiled as I thought about my week off ahead.  Next week is spring break and I couldn't be more excited.  It was a busy week at work and I'm in much need of a break before the final stretch of the school year.  And what better way to start off spring break than with a pleasant spring run on a pleasant spring day?