Miles for the week: ~17 (~3/~4/3/7.25)
Average resting heart rate per Fitbit: 57
Weight: 116
CityStrides coverage of Northampton: 38%
Long run: 7.25 miles; avg HR 135; time 1:31:48; average pace 12:39; splits 13:15, 14:14, 12:08, 12:47, 13:26, 12:07, 11:39
I got out before 7 because it was going to get hot, and it was clearer than I expected since it was foggy when I got up. On the humid side but under 70 degrees and beautiful blue skies. To get some new streets for CityStrides, now that I’ve replaced my phone, I explored the area around Baker Hill in the Bay State Village neighborhood. Two very steep streets; I get some elevation on my normal long run but it’s good to get real hills and remind myself I can do it. I felt very good physically, like I could run forever, but my legs were plenty tired when I got home. The annuals in Capen Garden are getting huge, which means summer is well along, and it seems like the catalpa pods are already turning brown and opening—I didn’t realize they ripened so fast.
I desultorily “collect” weather vane sightings (there’s an amazing stork-with-baby at Cooley Dickinson hospital which I’m looking forward to seeing again on a future run) and found this horse which presumably used to be one but is missing its directions:
Since I didn’t have my phone for the 4-miler on Thursday, I ran my old regular route from the 2015 marathon training, through the Meadows on the other side of 91. It’s great to have farmland so close; the potato plants were blooming and I noticed the beautiful ruby color of the ripening corn silk. it was very hot and I swear I could feel the corn breathing—an emanation of cooler, moister air from the forest of green stalks.
Thirteen more weeks, but there have been day-of decisions to make: I chose my baggage pickup option—none, because I want the cool poncho and won’t need much with me—and my transportation—the ferry, of course, because it’s a more special experience than just a boring old bus, and besides I can sleep later: I didn’t see my start time but I was able to pick a ferry time of 8:30am (not the last one), which is luxuriously late especially since we’ll have an extra hour for daylight savings time. It’s really happening!!!
