Our days start early now, and end late. I woke up at 04.15 recently to find the sky bright, I drove home tonight at 9.45 and didn't need to put the headlights on. Makes for good cool, evening runs, but I'm missing out on them usually. In preparation for McKenzie i'm running in the hotest part of the day. Remember, when we have a "heat wave" here, it means it's reached 75F. They called it scorching last week cause it reached 78F.

Last Wed I ran my first 10k. It was hot (see above note on temp.) I was very slow and very frustrated, knowing I could go faster. I finished and growled for about 2 hours afterwards.

But the week got better as it went on...although the temperature fluctuation from 68F on Wednesday to 44F on Saturday was a bit odd.

I've got this lovely run that's the perfect coyote run. A 4 mile loop that could have been pulled out of the hills around Eugene. Trails weaving through lush trees, stands of fir with little or no underbrush - it reads like the 'woof woods' - a few hill thrown in for 'fun'.....Saturday it was pouring rain and cold, three laps later I called it a day and went home to wring out my socks. It was great! :)

A couple random runs between then and now...last night I went and slammed out three mid 6 miles and a 'slow' 7.20. I was very pleased, but it might have had a negative impact on my 10k race tonight. :) oops.

A cool evening...dark clouds looming with impending rain. Perfect racing weather. I wasn't sure if I'd do the 5 or 10k and thought Coyoda would say "go for the 10k - just run it, don't race everyone on the course". So of course I ran it and race a pack of 5 men "just for fun". (sorry PV) It was HILLY!! Really steep, long ones. That wasn't in the plan, they don't tell you about those before the race on purpose. But my legs must remember something from the distant past cause I took three of those guys on the hills - the up bit. I was pleased with that.

Ended it with an uphill and that was good for me. Took 4 minutes off my time from last week - go figure, guess I don't do flat, hot runs as well as rainy hills.