Training Week #6

Week 6 was a much better week than 5. I thought a lot about the community that running builds. I have had several people offer to join me on my long runs, which is super cool. I feel so supported, which is especially important on the days where I am not feeling so confident.
I've still really been enjoying my morning runs, although I have to get up earlier and earlier for my midweek runs. I love watching the sunrise.  I have been trying to find different routes to keep me interested, aware, and motivated. So I started out this week checking out some new streets---and I found my new favorite street! All the streets off of the main road are about one block long, and this one is super cute! The houses, the landscaping--and this, flags on every tree. #merica Good three mile run, and found a whole new route that I love. Just over 3 miles and brings me right back home. Pretty flat, a couple of hills to keep things interesting.
My midweek run was a five miler. I combined my new favorite route with another that I run frequently that's about two miles, which made for an awesome run altogether. Very happy with my overall time, even though I didn't necessarily feel spectacular about my pace.      

Run 3 of the week (another 3 miler) wasn't necessarily anything to write home about. As I was finishing up, come down my street, I decided to stop and take a picture of the orange barrels that have lined the pavement since May. Symbolic of obstacles standing in our way, perhaps, things that need to be overcome. I also took a picture of my outfit in two shots, as a shout out to the glory days of Camp (and a nod to the fact that we'd be leaving for a weekend of camping later that day) and my pants...well, back in the aforementioned glory days, my friend LeeAnn and I (along with other guest actors!) would act out the story The Sneeches as well as The Green Pants for our campers. As I ran through the early morning dim, and thought about the fact that I have no reflective gear, I thought, thank goodness I have these bright colored pants! But I must look like the green pants from the story...just a floating pair. So shoutout to LeeAnn for this gem of a memory.  

After a fun weekend camping (and a two hour nap), I was ready to take on my 7 mile long run. Every third week of the training plan has a shorter long run, so I was feeling good about the fact that it was 3 miles less than the previous week, and only 2 miles more than my longest short run of the week. The weather was gorgeous, perfect for a run. Got to try out my new headphones (wireless, LOVE THEM!) I let me feet make all the decisions, got some new pavement under my feet. My path took me to my old stomping grounds, Maple Grove. It had me thinking about how much life changes. This fall I'll be starting my third year at Lakeview. It will be the longest I've been in one place since I started my teaching career. It feels weird to think about being in one place for that long. Can I see being there my whole career? I don't know. Being settled is unsettling...but I love my staff and I love my kids, so it just might be growing on me.       

Just a few days away from week 7 being in the books. Super nervous about my 12 mile run on Sunday...but if I can do that, then the Fort 14 should be easy peasy next week...