Halfway There

Saturday was another run for the LA Running Club.

I had run Tuesday and felt good; but, then managed to catch a cold (In August!?!?!?!?) and thought it best to get rest as much as I could. I feel a bit upset about not doing midweek runs; but, it has been one thing after another these days.

It was nice to start with overcast skies and also I really heard the waves crashing along the shore of the Pacific.

There was a warning that a fellow LARC member had been mugged the Saturday before; fortunately, Santa Monica Police Department tracked the culprit down and it seems he will be enjoying free state housing for a while. The LARC also had a stretching workshop; so, after all these different activities, I felt looser than normal and also energized.

This was also a longer run ...

I set out and was feeling quite good and running fast, too fast, for this point of training and distance.

I made the Santa Monica Pier and continued southward towards Venice.

Venice is home territory more or less due to LA Roadrunners training; so, it is a comfort zone, even with all the strange people and behavior everpresent.

Once I reached the landmark flagpole at Windward, I headed down the straightaway that is Speedway. I slowed some; but, still felt pretty good.

I reached the jetty, where I had gone last week, and continued onwards to Marina del Rey.

Marina del Rey has many nice townhouses and obviously a marina, with many very large and nice and expensive boats and yachts. Somehow I missed a turn and did not quite reach Mother's Beach (I did see it!); but, reached the end of one pier and having gone over halfway for assigned mileage worked my way to head home. It felt a bit weird being down there on my own; but, I had made it. I also felt the effects of the cold coming on again.

I started heading back through the marina and the nice areas and into Venice. Speedway was crowded with cars, movers, and runners/walkers. I was plugging along which was alright.

The Venice boardwalk reminded me of how weird the area is ... I heard "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" coming from one store. Just further evidence that marijuana use is not a good thing.

When I reached the Casa del Mar hotel in Santa Monica, I stopped to finish off my bottle of water. There were more people out and the sun was starting to peer through the clouds.

I was starting to struggle a bit; but, I kept moving and overall it was alright.

Climbing up the Santa Monica Pier proved to be an issue with just a lot of people and traffic there for some reason early. At one point, I was walking and it was not due to lack of energy.

I made Ocean Avenue and was slower than the way out but was still going. I was happy to do the mental countdown of streets as I neared the starting point.

Finally, I crossed California Incline and got the feeling ... and even managed to increase speed a bit. I wanted so badly to sprint; but, there was just too much traffic of human and dog nature to go for it.

At last, I made the LARC base and started stretching. Then, it was Gatorade time!

I had done the distance and a bit more for October 24. My pace was a tad slower than I wanted; but, it was not disastrous.

Not bad. I definitely need to work on my speed and power reserves; but, at least I can do the distance.

2:41.35 of running
13.36 miles
12:07 pace