One step further

Forgot to mention the run last night.

Duh, the whole point of this blog:

 

September 19, evening run.

Start time:  6:27 according to the clock on my oven.

 

8 miles.

 

1:34:05 (11:52 pace)

 

*Equals my second longest run ever.  #1 was last year's marathon.  #2 was 8 miles at Memorial earlier this year.

 

Splits (unscientific landmark points):

43rd and TC Jester  (roughly 2 miles):  19 minutes (down from 21:00 on Friday, generally around 20:00)

Railroad tracks just north of 34th at TC Jester:  31:00 (down from 35:00 on Friday, generally around 33:00;  5.85 mile turnaround, 2.9 miles)

34th at TC Jester (Friday's turnaround, 3.25 miles):  38:00  (down from 45:00 Friday.  Only the second time hitting this point.)

I-610 at TC Jester (4 miles):  45:00 (first time hitting this point).

 

On the return:

34th at TC Jester--didn't check.

Railroad tracks--Didn't check.

43rd at TC Jester:  1:10:00--pretty close to right on pace.

Home:  1:34:05.

 

The last couple was a little slower than the first couple, but that's ok.  I was on cruise control about then.  I felt pretty strong on the last couple and wasn't praying for a car to hit me.

 

There was considerable muscle fatigue around my left knee.  That's annoying.  Not bad, just annoying. 

I thought a lot about fighting through the pain and just enduring.  I thought about the kids I'm running for and how they don't get the option to quit.  The pain comes.  They endure.  It goes away.  They endure.  Then it comes back.  They endure. 

Eventually they just go numb...  then we've lost them.

We've lost them, that is, unless someone steps into the chasm and teaches them to go one step further than numb and teaches them that grown ups aren't all scary.  Some actually care.  Most, in fact, care.  That there is such a thing as a comfort in the hands of grownups, not merely pain.  One step further.  That's what the marathon's all about really...  one step further.  That's what life's all about.

 

One step further.