58 Minute Run (Outside!)

58 Minute Run - 1pm
54:07 Minute Actual
6 Miles
6.65 mph
9 minute mile

It was a blistery 36 degrees today (so I broke my arbitrary sub-40 no outside workout rule), but it was sunny and I couldn't take running on the treadmill again, so I finally got outside to do some "actual running" instead of spinning my wheels on the suckmill.  I don't want to understate this, so let me be clear...it was awesome.

I was at my parent's house with my girls, and when they went down for their afternoon nap, I put on some shorts, grabbed my iPod (yeah, yeah, I know...but Geek, don't you have a Zune?  I'm a geek, I've got both...get over it already) and started running.  There's a trail that starts about a half mile from their house, so I went down a couple blocks and hopped on the trail.  It's a beautiful asphalt trail through the woods that, if you go from end to end, is about 11 or 12 miles.  Of course I didn't need to go that far, so I ran the trail three miles and then turned around to come back.  I felt like I kept a nice pace and it actually has some nice hills so there was plenty of variety. 

As you probably know, I've never been a runner.  In fact, I typically hate running.  My old joke was always, "I only run if I'm being chased" or some stupid variation of that.  But today felt different.  I've been running consistently (on a treadmill, of course) for the past two months and I finally got to go cover some ground and I really liked it.  I had my iPod pounding out some tunes, I had a general plan as to where I wanted to go and I just ran.  It was great.  I can see where some people really like to get out and just run.

A few observations:

• I tried to smile and say hi to everyone I saw on the trail.  A little lame and weird, maybe.  But I'm out running because I want to, if I'm not having fun, then what the hell am I doing out there, I should just stay home and eat pizza, right?  I figure everyone else is out there because they want to be as well...so they should be happy, right?  Let's just say I did not get reciprocation from everyone I saw.
• Yes, it was 36 degrees, but I saw far too many people wearing heavy coats, gloves and hats for how warm it actually felt.  I was in a long sleeve UnderArmor shirt and shorts and was fine, what's wrong with everyone's internal temperature?
• I used a Genius autofill for my iPod today and I set the starting song on an old school Nirvana song from their Incesticide album.  I basically just wanted some rock/alternative to run to.  This ended up being awesome, I heard some old stuff I hadn't heard in a long time, Stone Temple Pilots, Seven Mary Three, Cream, Nirvana, Black Crowes...then it got weird for a few songs.  Apple decided that I also wanted to listen to Tom Petty (which I guess I can understand, but it's not really the same) and then...Phish.  OK, I know what you're thinking, "Geek, you're the one with a Phish CD, why are you complaining?" True, it's from a phase in high school where I probably didn't know what I was doing, but why on earth would it Genius think that a jam band would match the rest of what was on my playlist?  Awkward.
• Now I'm wondering, what the hell happens when I put a Phish song as the starting place for Genius?  What does that playlist look like? (Yeah, I'm totally doing that tomorrow.)
• It's harder to keep a steady pace outside without mile markers of some kind, I need to remember that.
• It's totally easier to lengthen your stride when you're not on a treadmill and can vary your tempo slightly.
• Six miles is the furthest I've ever run continuously (no walking at all today) and I still had plenty left in the tank.  I'm feeling good about this race.