Timing is everything

I glanced at my watch at 11:15 am and considered heading out for an early lunch. I had just one more thing to do.

As often happens, that “one thing” lead to another and then another. Soon my stomach was growling and it was already well into the typical lunch hour. I’d missed my opportunity.

Forced to eat, I made my way to the refrigerator for some leftover enchilada and broccoli. After eating all of that, I went ahead and ate my yogurt to balance out the meal. My fruit will be useful in the late afternoon.

My belly is now quiet but full. I’ll have to put off my run for quite a while. I have just ONE thing to do that should be just the right amount of time. Timing *is* everything. Hopefully, I can get it right this time.

Now, I *know* you all are wondering, whether or not I did get out for my run today…

I did.

Around 2 pm, I headed out for my run. It was very windy outside but the rain had stopped falling. Hum? Maybe my timing was good after all.

Coach had prescribed a faster pace range for today’s run. Being the go-getter that I often am, I wanted to hit the faster part of the given range. The wind, however, made this a bigger challenge. The hill in the first mile didn’t help either. Still my first two miles clicked off at 8:12 and 8:07.

I continued on, noting that my second mile was too fast. Down by the water, where the ground is uneven, I let myself relax and slowed down the pace. Coming out of the uneven surface and onto pavement again, the third mile clicked off at 8:24.

I was happy with my run to this point, but I didn’t want my mile splits to continue slowing. I picked up the pace a bit, finishing mile 4 at 8:20.

In the final mile, I could feel the headwind trying to slow me down. It was a fight that I was not about to lose. I pushed harder and told myself that I would walk as soon as I hit mile 5. In 8:15, when the final mile was completed, I stopped my watch and began to walk back to the office. I was tired but I feel good about hitting the pace dead on. Timing is everything.