15 miles on a Sunday

COVID-19, “The Rona Era”
My long run was recalculated. My normal Saturday long run on the Boston Marathon course didn’t happened on Saturday because of the snowy,windy, rainy, weather mix. I did go to the Y and do the Elliptical for 42 minutes.

Today, Sunday, was a new day. The sky was clear and the pavement was dry. I decided to run along the Charles for my 15 since I had to change my plan. In theory, if I had gotten up early, I would be able to run and then go to church but that didn’t happen.

6:05a.m. I parked on memorial drive next to MIT on the Cambridge side of the river. This is my normal parking spot anyway. I hadn’t over here, since I’ve been training on the Boston course for my long runs. I had my new hydration vest( 2nd time taking it out) with water and fuel. No headlight needed since at 6:15a.m. the sun was coming up.

I started running and turned on the garmin and the strava. I hadn’t been using Strava since it was giving me technical issues the last time I was using it. Well, my phone in general too.

Slow and steady, I ran along the Charles on the Cambridge side. Passing MIT and Harvard campus. Since it was early, it was quiet out- Just like I like it. There were not a lot of runners. I would see a couple of runners every now and then but it was quiet that early.

Then I turned on Storrow drive side to keep on running along side the river. My new mental trick is to break the runs up in 5ks. I had to do 5- 5ks today.

My body felt good and strong. I can tell my endurance is building. I could keep a steady pace and keep going. At every 5k, I had water. Before I got to mile 4, I was hot. I took my jacket off and put it in my vest, because I have a lot of room.

By the time I was at mile 11, I was on Newbury street in from of Tracksmith store where my girl Katonya and Cherylanne were waiting to start their 9 a.m. run with their Tracksmith running group. It was around 8:30a.m. when I saw them. We chatted, laugh, and Katonya, got me a wet wipe because I was salty and sweaty.

I had 4 more miles to go. I continued down Newbury street to the Public Gardens to see the Ducklings, then I made my way back to Mass Ave to cross over to memorial bridge. That’s when it happened. When I was close to the Mass Ave corner to make a right turn, my ass fell. I don’t know how it happened. The pavement wasn’t uneven or wet. My shoelaces were tired. It shocked the be-Jesus out of me. I feel on my hands( I wish I had my gloves on to soften the blow). I hit my left knee, the Hoffa Fat Pad knee and my right foot hurt. The top of my foot. There was no one around to ask if I was ok. I fell next to a firetruck that was parked on the street. Clearly there was no one there.

I slowly got up, caught my breathe and stopped my tracker. I had to get some water and have a minute. Oh, did I feel it. There was no tear in my skin but I had to walk it off before I could think about running. This happened at mile 13. Two more miles to go.

I slowly started to light run, I guess jog. Putting pressure on my right foot hurt and my knee was still good but sore.

I made my way across Memorial bridge and through Kendall square to come back around to memorial drive and my car. Whoo Child, it was rough today.

My garmin had: 15.01 miles; 2:41:07; 10:44 min/mile pace. Strava had 15.01, 2:45:25, 11:01/min/mile pace. This is with the fall. That shows me my endurance and strength is getting better.

The task got done. Now ice, ice, ice.