Day 31: Miles in May

I ran a mile today.

Then I lifted some weights. Then I ran a couple more. Then I walked three miles around Hinckley Lake. But that's it. Only 6.7 for the day. But I think I was due for a down day. You see, it's been a pretty heavy-duty month.

How heavy-duty, you ask? Well, let me tell you. I ran and walked 394.36 miles, of which 349.68 were running and 44.68 were walking. This places me around 62% of the way through Tennessee, ignoring for the moment my plan to turn around and run back again.

More to the point of this high mileage, 394, even 349 is more than I've done in a month in a long, long time.

Now then. Next week starts the big push.

Day 30: I See Runner People

The post title is an extremely poor attempt to parody the famous movie saying, 'I see dead people.'

But I did see other runners today. And I even ran with a couple of them. Other than a couple brief encounters, this is my first group run since early March. We three were Michelle Wolff, Frank Dwyer, and me.

We ran most of the Medina Half Marathon route. The now-canceled MHM had originally been scheduled for today. I added five more miles to make eighteen. It was a good long run, and it was really good to catch up with old friends / training partners.

Thanks to MHM RD Beth Bugner, I have a medal to commemorate my course run

Day 29: On a Mission

It's nearly inevitable. If I have a mission, any mission, my run turns out better. The mission is often related to running a specific course or doing some sort of speedwork or tempo tun. If I set out with that goal in mind, the run at least has a chance of being successful. This all makes sense for a goal-oriented person. It probably does for everyone.

Today the goal was to complete the Brunswick Lake course: a few miles over to Brunswick Lake, two to five one-mile loops around, then back. It didn't start out so great. The problem? I was tired and sore. How's that for unique? But then I slowly unwound and the pace improved.

Got the ten in, and it wasn't awful. Had I not went out on that course, it would have been.

Day 28: I don't need it good, I need it Wednesday.

"I don't need it good, I need it Wednesday.” I heard that in relation to a Hollywood Producer asking for a film score to be completed sooner than the composer liked. It relates to today's running in this way. In order to complete the there and back 2000K course of the Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee (GVRAT), I have to average over ten miles per day. I've been successful so far, but I have a long way to go. Not all the runs have been gems. But that's okay, so long as I complete the required mileage.

Today's run was not a gem. I ran most of the miles outside in the rain, and those were so slow, I thought I'd never finish. In fact, I didn't. I got most of them in, but then finished on the mill.

By the way, I'm in Chattanooga. 

Day 27: Today's Tremendous Track Tempo Trot

I ran ten miles today. Oh, you've heard that one before? Sorry.

I suppose that today's run wasn't all that tremendous. But it's nice to be back to running two 'something of substance' runs in a week. I probably ought to qualify that with the word, 'barely'. And it was nice to be able to achieve tempo pace once I got to the track. It was the four miles there that were around eight-minute pace. I'll take it.

Day 26: In days of old

In days of old

When knights were bold

And toilets weren’t invented

They left their load

In the middle of the road

And walked away contented

A “friend” was running on the Lester Rail Trail in the early morning darkness, where he had unpleasant encounters with several large piles. Either large dogs or small-brained humans (or some combination) must have been responsible. Irresponsible would probably be a better word.

“What’s all this talk about endangered feces?” ~ Emily Litella

Ten miles on LRT today. I was originally thinking of doing more, but that didn't happen.

Day 25: Half-Way Across Tennessee

I ran ten miles today. That's not unusual. It's been the goal for most days since I began The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K (GVRAT) on May 1. Today's wasn't an easy ten; although I was tired, I managed to get myself to the track and do four 1200-meter repeats.

None of this is news. What is news is that I've reached a milestone of sorts. I have now traveled over 317 miles since GVRAT began, This places me half-way through the 635-mile route across the state.

Since I plan to virtually turn around and run back after I get across, it's probably more accurate to say that I'm 25% of the way through. But that doesn't sound as good. Regardless of where I'm at, I'm having way more fun with this whole thing than I ought to be.

These numbers aren't 100% correct, but they're close. This shows where I'm at on the map.

Here are the real numbers

Day 24: Fork in the Road? Take it!

Heading South on Substation, approaching Sleepy Hollow Road, and there's a decision to be made. Right will take me on an eleven-mile route, Straight will bring me on a different eleven-mile route, and Left will take me on a nine-to-ten-mile route. I kind of wanted to run eleven today, because that would add up to eighty or so running miles for the week. I say running miles because I still designate the extra walking ones to keep separate track of them. Of course, I still include all running and walking miles for GVRAT. Alas, my Garmin Forerunner 45 makes the decision for me, and it's the shorter route. I'm running so slow that it's all I have time for.

On Sleepy Hollow, I'm on the left side, facing oncoming traffic. There isn't much on a Sunday. I hear a car approaching from behind, so I move farther to the left, just to be safe. He (I'm sure it's a he) suddenly steps on the gas and goes left of center in order to scare the daylights out of me. It does; I nearly need to stop to clean up, as more than daylights are almost scared out of me.

A few miles later, I'm heading north on Kent Drive. Under the 25-MPH speed limit sign is an electronic 'Your Speed is' sign, the kind where your speed is displayed as a flashing number. I used to be able to get these things to work for me when I'm running, but not lately. Today, it does work! It tells me that I'm going 6, and then 7 and 8 as I purposely speed up. I'm not sure why I get a kick out of this, but it never fails for me.

As I get closer to home, I realize that my slow pace has improved, although only slightly. I may possibly be able to add a little on here to get closer to that higher weekly mileage milestone. What do I do? Just head home for nine and change. Enough is enough.

The reason for the time constraint is a family hike in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Here I am with Malcolm and Vincent

Day 23: A COVID 19-Miler

The running club to which I belong is the Medina County Road Runners. We're having a virtual race to be completed within the final two weeks of May. It's called the MCRR Virtual Medina Marathon and COVID 19-Miler. You can pick only one distance, and last week I ran a marathon. Today, even though I can't count it, I ran a COVID 19-Miler.

You might ask why. Well, 18 miles seemed too short, and 20 seemed too long.

It went okay. I did a six-mile loop, then it was over to the track and back for 13 more. I generally got faster as the morning wore on. I like it when that happens. Still not my fastest long run, but I'll take it.

Day 22: Something of Substance

That post title ought to be clarified. 'Something of Some Substance' or 'Something of (a little) Substance' would work better.

It's raining again. Of course it's not so cold out there anymore, but it's still too easy to stay inside and run on the mill. Even so, I need, as usual, ten miles. I jog five at an easy pace. Then I run five more at tempo pace. It wasn't too tough.

I am hopeful that today's tough treadmill tempo ten won't have a negative impact on tomorrow's planned long run.

Day 21: Smart Running

Six miles into the run, I turn from Oxford onto Princeton. Been a while since I've hit a whole lot of these smart-sounding streets, but here I am. After Princeton, I hit Stanford, Yale, Dartmouth, and perhaps a few others before winding up on Harvard.

After all that, and now eight miles in, I move on over to the presidential streets. First, there's Jefferson, then Coolidge, Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt (who knows which one), Harding, McKinley, and Garfield. I won't mention the golf-course or female name streets.

My run ends, as usual, when I make it to ten miles. That's four double-digit runs in a row, pretty much what I need to be doing these GVRAT days. But is it smart? I dunno, but after traversing those university streets, I ought to be protected. No?

Next comes the weekend. That's where I really crank up the mileage.

Day 20: Nothing of Substance

Ten again today. Until this week I had been trying to maintain the speedwork that I'd been doing before this GVRAT thing. That usually entailed a long interval session (800 or 1200 repeats) and a tempo run each week. Some of it was done on the treadmill. I say until this week because there has been absolutely nothing in terms of speed so far this week. I'm still getting over Saturday's marathon, yet trying to maintain the distance that's demanded by GVRAT.

So I do these ten-milers, with the hope that I'll still be able to do something of substance. Some day.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 19: Trashed

Do not misconstrue the meaning of the title of this post. It's not about me; I'm not trashed. Nope. I'm just fine, Well, okay, I'm a little beat up, but what's really trashed here are my shoes. They're the $12.99 Aldi specials, and over about 100 comfy miles, they have nicely far exceeded expectations. Alas, they're shot now. Just one more run - today's ten in the rain.

I could have easily talked myself into staying inside and running on the mill like I did yesterday. Even though it's not a cold rain (which I really hate), it's still rain. But this time my resolve to get outside wins out.

It was an easy ten miles, and I actually managed to get lost. You wouldn't think that that's possible so close to home, but rest assured, I can still do it. It made for some exploration, although it slowed me down some. Remember, the faster you run, the more lost you can get, and the corollary is also true. Of course, the other thing that slowed me down was the slight slipping and sliding on the wet concrete with my worn-out shoes.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 18: The Grind

It's a bit of a grind to continue running big miles, at least on tired days. Today was one of those. Thank goodness for the mill; if it wasn't for that, my miles would be lower.

I'm ready to head out the door, but my head isn't in it. Not to mention my heart. It's raining, but not cold. Changing my mind as I was just about to emerge, I go to the basement instead. I get on the mill and go.

I went. Got ten in. Tomorrow will be a better day.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 17: Lots

How am I doing today, after yesterday's marathon? Glad you asked. I did four slow, tired miles this morning, But the good news is that I'm not overly sore or hurting in any major way. In fact, you might say that I feel like I will be energized going into next week. We'll see how that works out.

Keen observers will note that I'm doing lots of miles. Last week's 84 was the most in years and years. This week, I have surpassed 90! Of course, the caveat is that 10% to 15% of the miles were spent walking (remember: don't judge). Even so, it's a bunch, And it's all because of GVRAT.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 16: MCRR Virtual Medina Marathon and COVID 19-Miler

There was a change of plans. This here MCRR Virtual Medina Marathon and COVID 19-Miler was going to happen tomorrow (Sunday, May 17) and it was going to be done on a track. So much for planning. Instead, I did it today, and I did it on the Lester Rail Trail. Smart decision? Probably not, but you know how it is when those voices in your head get talking.

I’ve had good runs and bad runs on the Lester Rail Trail. I’ve done a lot of 24-milers here, but lately, the runs have been closer to the 18-mile range. Today the goal is four of the six-mile out-and-back loops, plus a little extra to make 26.2. Here’s the hour-by-hour play-by-play. Or should I say, blow-by-blow?

5:00 AM: I’m off. I’ve run in the dark here before, but today is a little different. The fog and gloom are thick, so the light from my headlamp reflects back and nearly blinds me. I turn it off within the first mile; it’s no longer completely dark anyway. After only a couple slower miles, I’m settling down to a ten-minute per mile pace. Had this been a non-virtual marathon (one that I’d tapered properly for, one that had other competitors, and one that is not in the middle of the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee), I would instead be shooting for a nine-minute pace.

6:00 AM: I am returning to the car every loop to get water and gel. Since I can’t stop my watch (this is a race, you know), I have to make these stops fast and efficient. I suppose they are, but it takes more time than I’d like to get the stone out of my left shoe.

7:00 AM: Another stone. This is happening because I didn’t tie the laces tight. I didn’t tie them tight because I had that foot pain from running a long run here a couple weeks ago. Now that I’m near the half-way range, I manage to pick the pace up a little. Now, most of the miles are clocking at about 9:30. The fog is lifting a bit as the sun is rising.

8:00 AM: Over three hours in. I lament how I used to do a complete marathon in this amount of time. In more recent years, I’ve at least gotten to mile 20 by now. Today? I manage to hit mile 18 before the clock strikes three. But only barely. The good news is that I’m feeling well. Maybe I’ll be able to finish strong. There’s a stone in my shoe, but I’m getting proficient at taking it off, dumping it out, and getting it back on in a short amount of time.

9:00 AM: Only a couple miles to go, and I’m feeling just fine. Except for that newest stone, that is. This time I leave it. I’ve only got two to go.

9:15 AM: I finish in 4 hours and 15 minutes. My final two sub-9 minute miles were the best of the bunch. Still feeling pretty good, I get in the car and drive home, where I dump the final stone from my shoe.

General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 15: Terrible Tapering

Tapirs should not be underestimated

Speaking of tapering, which I've done before (speaking, not necessarily doing), I will typically take the second day prior to a marathon completely off. That would be today, assuming I am still thonning this Sunday. Then tomorrow, I would do an easy 1 to 3 mile run to loosen up.

These are not typical terrific tapering times. Due to GVRAT, where miles matter, they are terrible tapering times. Running a lot of miles day in and day out is somewhat antithetical to peak performance, at least during the high-mileage period itself. Which it is - and I'm still only getting started. But I do want to do this marathon as well. It's the MCRR Virtual one that I spoke of in yesterday's post.

After around 45 running miles plus 5-ish walking miles earlier this week, I did take it a tiny bit easier today. I only ran six miles at a very slow and easy pace before walking a couple more. So I suppose you could call it a tepid, tentative taper.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 14: Marathon Training

Today it was: to the track and back. It was a dry run for the MCRR Virtual Medina Marathon and COVID 19-Miler. It's my own thing, so I do actually have to run it. There are all sorts of distance options, from 5K up to a 19-miler and a marathon. Naturally, I'll be going for a marathon. We have two weeks to run the virtual race, beginning this Sunday. Here's my own plan: a) do it (the marathon) first thing Sunday (weather permitting), b) perhaps do what I did today - run over to the track and around and around, then back, c) try not to let any of this hinder my GVRAT distance goal.

Couple other things:

1) Today's trial run went fairly well. I managed eleven miles (five at the track), and it wasn't bad. I've done this sort of thing before, by the way. But based on today's run, I've resolved a way to do it. Part of that is to stay in lane 8 and switch directions every two miles or so.

2) As some may have noticed, my mileage is up there, so that ought to bode well. What may not bode so well is that my long runs have only been in the 18 to 19 mile range. 26 is a lot more.

3) For the sake of GVRAT, I have to not taper too very much, and I have to pick it right back up in the following days. Quite a challenge.

But of course it's a challenge. That's why I'm here.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 13: Tremendous Toll - Today's Terrible Tempo Trot

The question is not, 'will I be able to maintain my tempo pace of around 8:10-ish per mile?' heading up this here Keller-Hanna Rd. hill. It's 'will I even make it to the top?' The short answer, in terms of the continuation of running, is no. I spot some litter in the form of a can and a bottle, and without even thinking, stop to pick them up. Now I have to find a recycling container in which to deposit them. All this caused me to stop my watch for a half-minute or so, and more importantly, stop running and catch my breath.

From that point on, it's almost entirely downhill. I start back up, and even manage to increase my speed just a bit as I finish today's ten-miler. The stop did rather put an end to today's tempo running, but I had managed to get four miles at the desired pace just prior to that point.

Thus, today's tempo trot wasn't too terrible. I just seemed a little faster and easier the last time I ran this route. I do have to wonder what kind of toll these Something-of-Substance runs are taking on my GVRAT high-mileage. And vice-versa.

~

Today Debbie and I walked around Hinckley Lake and once again, we spotted a bald eagle. They must have set up shop someplace nearby,


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 12: Thoughts About Virtual Racing

~Dan's Virtual Race~  Here's the deal. 1) You pay me money. 2) You run on your own someplace and tell me about it (lying is permitted, exaggeration is encouraged). 3) I will send you a t-shirt and a medal. Sound good?

That is essentially the gist of virtual racing. Oh, there are variations, but why not look at it from a slightly detached point of view? It seems at least a little silly, doesn't it? Yet here I am, virtually running across Tennessee, along with 16,000 others. And here I am, helping the Medina County Road Runners put on their very own virtual race. The irony (of my ridicule and my participation) is not lost on me.

I get it. We can't do our normal racing due to social distancing guidelines. But we still want challenges, so enter virtual racing. Racing has always been special to me - there the challenge, the competition, the social gathering, the spectacle. But since we can't gather in large groups, why not try doing this virtual thing. I did resist at first, but then I saw this The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K thing. And I decided to challenge myself. It's different. This mileage will indeed be tough for me.

My friends and family are putting up with me, as they always do. "Hey, look - I'm almost to Selmer (TN)," I say. "Oh, that's good, Dan," they answer. And so on.

Today I was all dressed up with no place to go. No place, because it was cold - very cold - outside once again. So for the second day in a row, I was a treadmill wimp. I had intended to do something of substance outside, so now that I was inside, I there it there: 9 x 1200 at about 5:52 each. It will have to do.

One more thing about GVRAT. Today is day 12 of 123. That means I'm 10% done, at least in terms of time. I'm ~24% of the way across, and that's around 12% of the total distance. Bottom line: I'm staying ahead, but there isn't much room for error.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 11: The Mill

Having a treadmill is (mostly) a good thing. Take today. I probably wouldn't have run at all today if I had to go outside in the cold and mid-May snow. It didn't help that I was tired and lazy. So on my chariot I climbed, and 11 miles I ran.

I just passed Selmer, well on my way across Tennessee.

General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 10: Semi-Rural

I was due for a decent run, and I got one today. It was on the semi-rural roads near my house. I have been running on these roads more often lately. They're better when there's little traffic, like on weekends, or almost anytime during this here pandemic.

Today it was my eleven-mile course on Substation, Hamilton, Abbeyville, and Sleepy Hollow roads. I enjoy these roads when they're so quiet, as they were this Sunday morning. It also helped that I was feeling half-way decent, and that I finished strong.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 9: Sub-Ten

During my first eight days of the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee, I managed to log ten or more miles each day. As mentioned in previous posts, ten (and a little change) is the magic number. Of course, ten is just the average I need to achieve. I have logged bigger numbers on occasion. But I've never gone below ten.

Until today.

30F and snow. I didn't want to face it on May 9. In fact, I never want to face it. But today's muscle soreness, sore foot, and general fatigue sealed the deal: I would just do what I could on the mill today.

As expected, even that wasn't going so well. After about four miles, I stepped off and began a separate 2.3-mile run that I did to honor the memory of Ahmed Arbery, the African-American runner who was hunted down and murdered by a white father and son. 2.3 miles is as far as he got that day. Others are doing this as well, and I just learned that it was supposed to be 2.23, not 2.3. Oh well.

After stepping on and off the mill a couple more times, I found myself with over nine miles. That's still short of ten, but I suppose I had to go below average sometime.

My Daily Mileage

General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 8: Scene and Herd (more nonsense)

Touch: Very light rain. Intermittent left foot pain (which has now returned). Cold left hand late in the run.

Taste: A granola bar before. Vanilla gels (not the greatest) and water during. An apple after.

Smell: Lots of geosmin smell from recently plowed farmland. (Geosmin is an organic compound released by a group of soil microorganisms called actinomycetes.) One spot where there was a slight skunk odor. A slight scent from some blossoms. I won't mention the porta-john.

Sound: Distant trains (lots). My footsteps (lots). Singing birds, including the one described below.

Sight: Deer eyes, reflecting my headlamp in the dark. A few other people and animals. Notably, a super-beautifully-bright orange Baltimore Oriole that was also singing its pretty head off.

At mile ten, I stopped to (unsuccessfully) attempt to get a stone out of my shoe. I was getting tired, but this is the point where things began to get better for me during last week's long run here on the Lester Rail Trail. That run began poorly, but ended well. This run began okay, but it was starting to look like it would end poorly.

It did. The miles got slower and slower after mile ten. I nearly didn't go back out after returning to the car at mile twelve. Would I even make it to eighteen?

I did. Bareyly. I shuffled along for the final six, but they were definitely not pretty. I guess the high number of miles combined with three days in a row involving something of substance took their toll.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 7: Eagle at Hinckley

Today I only ran two miles outside before coming back in and doing eight more on the mill. Why? It was cold, that's why! Remember, I ask you not to judge me.

Speaking of which, I mentioned in that same post that I am counting walking miles for GVRAT. Today, after those ten running miles, Debbie and I hiked the three miles around Hinckley Lake.

I've run and walked thousands of miles at Hinckley. Yes, thousands. And I have never once, until today, spotted a bald eagle there. But this day, there was not one, but two swooping over the lake. It was a sight to see! I wonder where their nest is?

Hiking Hinckley, just after spotting the eagles

General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 6: Not Outta the Hood

Looks like I'm not going to make it out of the hood today. That's not entirely a bad thing, and I've done it before: run ten one-mile loops in my neighborhood. After five of these babies, I kicked it up to tempo pace. Barely.

Tempo pace is something like 8:20 per mile or better for at least three miles. I only just managed that pace today. The thing is, I did a four-mile tempo yesterday, so this is two tempos in a row.

Things are looking up for me and for my participation in GVRAT.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 5: Don't Judge Me, Part 2

UPDATE: I have learned that lawn mowing is not to be counted towards GVRAT mileage. Although I feel that it should be in this instance, I will abide by the rules and not count this. I'll leave it below because it was fun anyway.




After my tremendous track tempo trot, I did something else.

I promise to never, ever do it again, at least for GVRAT. I am going to count lawn mowing mileage. Wait. Before you judge me on that, lookyahere. I used my human-powered push mower (something I rarely do), and I ran as I pushed, at least as much as I could. My GPS tells me it was 0.92 miles, which I’ll add to the 10+ that I already ran.

Although today's tempo run wasn't quite as good as last week's, it was decent enough. Also, I felt less tired today, and my foot is a tiny bit better. Things are almost back to normal here in Dan-Land. I hope.

General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 4: Brunswick Lake

One of my regular haunts is Brunswick Lake. I normally run between 2.5 and 4 miles to get there, then I run a few one-mile loops around the lake, before returning home.

I am tired today. I was yesterday, too. There's that... and my foot hurts today. It hurt yesterday, too. There is a smattering of people moving about and around the lake. Taking the longer route to the lake has enabled me to use this time to wake up and to finally begin to run a wee bit faster.

When I'm half-way around the lake, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around, only to discover that there's no one there. A half-mile later, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around, and this time, it's Pete Kostelnick.

It's not at all unusual to spot Pete here, but I was a bit surprised this time because of the case of the invisible man (or woman) that first time. Pete and I exchange hellos, and he continues past me, no doubt on his way to 20, 40, or 80 miles or so. It dawns on me after he's long gone that I should have asked him whether he's doing GVRAT. Oh well. Next time I see him.

Ten miles today. Although I've had worse runs, I'm hoping tomorrow will be better.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 3: Slow Burn

It's Day three of you-know-what. I'm running slow. Nothing to see here. Just move on.

I do move on, and I do manage to run nine slow miles of the usual ten-mile Sleepy Hollow course. A subsequent walk will put me over ten again today. That makes 44.25 miles (including about five walking miles) for my first three days of GVRAT, I should be ecstatic.

But I'm a little bit concerned. The top of my foot - the instep - hurts. I think it may have been the Hoka Speedgoat shoes I wore yesterday. Although I hadn't worn them for months, they are usually comfortable. It seems that they may have been tied too tight.

I'll try to baby myself. An injury this early in GVRAT would not be a good thing.


General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 2: Due for a Stinker?

The birds are singing. The stars are bright, but the predawn light is already forcing them to begin to wink out. I'm on the Lester Rail Trail, one of my favorite locations for long runs. I've posted many a story about these runs; here's one from fifteen years ago called, I Squashed a Yellow-jacket in my Singlet Today.

Lester Rail Trail (from the Medina County Parks website)

I am pretty sure I won't have time to run 24 miles today. It will probably be closer to the lower end of my long-run threshold of 18 miles. Even so, I'll have to maintain a half-way decent pace throughout, especially considering the several pit-stops that I'm necessarily making. How am I doing? Best not to know, so don't look at the watch. Don't look at the watch. Don't look at the watch. Oooops... I look at my watch. Aargh! - my pace is too darn slow.

It's getting lighter, and now I'm at mile five of the first six-mile out and back loop. I am still going so slow that I'm beginning to think this run may wind up being a complete stinker. I may not even make it to eighteen. Then I look behind me, and the sunrise is spectacular. There are reds, oranges, yellows, blues, and purples, and everything in between. The sight inspires me. But will said inspiration be enough to get me moving?

At the ten-mile mark in the second circuit, I guess I am finally running at the expected pace. Maybe I will make it to eighteen after all.

With only a couple miles to go, I am heading back to the car. I'm moving at my best pace yet. This is surprising, given that poor start. I am thinking about how I miss my running friends. I thought it possible that I may even see Michelle and Andy Wolff, or perhaps some of the others. But no, they must be socially distancing someplace else today. I do see a few other folks walking and running. Ahead of me, I see a guy with silver hair and green shorts. Could it be Tom Bieniosek? Thinking about it, I determine that it couldn't be anyone else.

I catch up and talk briefly with Tom, staying, of course, at the social distance of the width of the trail. I hadn't seen Tom for quite a while. He seems fine.

I move on and finish up. I wind up with nineteen and a quarter miles today. I'll walk for a few more later on.

This is day two of The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K. I'll try to continue to do these daily posts about my experiences.

General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT

Day 1: Don't Judge Me

Debbie and I walk almost daily. Most days, we only go a mile or so, but sometimes longer. I've almost never counted the walking mileage in my running log. The rare exceptions are a few hikes where I wanted to see the course or distance. Not that there's anything wrong with walking; it's just not running, and therefore should be counted as such. Until now.

Why now? Now, I'm entered in the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee (GVRAT).  GVRAT rules say that walking is allowed, but all walks and runs have to be specific activity efforts, not simply steps for the day. I'd been planning to still only count my running miles, even though averaging ten miles a day for 123 days would indeed be a challenge. Then I learned that the total distance is a little more than 1000K each way as originally stated. It's actually 635 miles (instead of 620), and 1,270 miles when we include the return (which I plan to do). So now I have to average 10.33, rather than 10.00 miles per day.

What's the big deal, you ask? It's only an extra 2.3 miles per week, or a little over ten additional miles per month. Piece of cake, you say. Except that it's a lot of icing to add to the already extremely calorie-laden cake. What to do? Include walking miles, of course. I probably would have come around to this decision even without the extra couple of miles. Those just helped make the decision easier.

What's the problem with mixing walking and running? I value good, consistent data. And now my running log will, beginning May 1, 2020, include running and walking. On the other hand, I suppose I can go through the data when GVRAT is done, and remove the walking activity.

Today, GVRAT Day 1, I ran five miles in the miserable cold rain, then five and half more on the mill. I won't log my GVRAT miles until after I walk with Debbie so that I can include those miles as well.

General Info about The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K
Info about my own participation in GVRAT