Vigor

Vigor:1 : active bodily or mental strength or force 2 : active healthy well-balanced growth especially of plants 3 : intensity of action or effect : force

I have been feeling vigorous lately! Runs have been strong, and enjoyable, the body is healing and prepared for the next training segment. I must break four hours in the marathon! Why? I don't really know except I believe I can do it and I've set my mind to the vision. A Problem: I am becoming fascinated with trail running, but I have to conquer this goal first.

Today it is 86 degrees with 56% humidity, much cooler than yesterday. I actually knocked off a 9:17 mile w/o trying in the mid afternoon sun! I'm thinking big!! I can shatter four hours!

Tomorrow I will hit the track with the intent of lowering my mile time. I need to hit 1:45's on each 400 to get to where I need to be, in my mind anyway. It'll be hot, humid, but I thrive in this....I am feeling vigorous! Hope it continues....I am seriously considering the Minneapolis marathon in October!! Thanks Beth! It all depends on my ability to get time off. Peace!!

Spring for sure!!

Remember the phrase "for sure"? We used to use that way back in the day! Well today I say it is Spring "for sure, man!" As I winged my way over the "Battlefield Hills" loop I hit the country side of the run and what did I see?.... a huge black snake slithering across the path! He was big! That is sure sign Spring is here! Then I came across another beautiful site. A Red-tailed Hawk soaring the currents scanning the ground for lunch. What a magnificent creature! To add to that as I came back to the black top there was a common sight in the Ozarks, road kill. Old Mr. Opossum wasn't playin'. Nope, he was dead. They are very abundant in these parts and are unfortunately slow when it comes to getting out of the way.

I decided on the 10.4 mile hill run and finished satisfied with a 1:39.58, or 9:36's. Not my fastest but not too slow either. Mile four to five was in 8:38 so I ran well. The six big hills are in the last two mile stretch so this is an excellent training effort.

Have you ever had that feeling of confidence as you are running up a hill ? Feeling the strength and power in your legs? Knowing you are going to "take" this hill!

That's how my legs felt today! Strong! I'm kinda' excited about the race Saturday? It's been nearly 16 or 17 years since I've run a half marathon! I'm sure I can sustain a quality effort.

Well I sure enjoyed the day. Hope you do, too!

P.S. To my friend Bill, what a great game! And what a great team Marquette is!! I think Mizzou can take Memphis! I only got to see the first half, I heard there was some controversy at the end of the game?