I just felt like running

Sunday afternoon run pushing Elliott in the stroller.  Did the 3M River City Run course (www.rivercityrun.come) in reverse with some add-ons.   Elliott slept most of the way.  Nice day- around 70F.

Ran easy on the trails as warmup.  Did three 1/2 mile intervals at half marathon pace for mental preparation (75-90 seconds rest).  Came in at 3:12-3:14.    I'm shooting for 6:30 pace.  The intervals felt good - not easy but more like a comfortably hard stride.

Commuting on foot to work.

I'm so pleased with the time change.  Almost my entire morning run to work was in daylight.   listened to the latest This American Life via podcast - the halloween edition.  highlight was a very harrowing tale of a rural New Yorkers tussle with a rabid racoon.  Eye opening.   There was also a David Sedaris story about a medical examiners office which like most of his stuff is hilarious.

The chicken kill plant smelled especially disgusting this morning.  I normally tolerate it well and have somewhat pleasant flashbacks to my childhood but this morning I was glad to be free of the stench.

1:20 on the first leg.

Will leave early from work (worked 12 yesterday) to be able to vote this evening.  I'll be glued to CNN until the president is announced.

1:17 on the return trip.   Got in to vote at 5pm.  No line.   Only 1 other voter in the polling place.  5 people working there though.

Easy run on the trails at work. Didn't have a whole lot of time. Finished listening to a podcast of "Wait Wait Don't tell me." Funny.

Another easy day.  Didn't feel particularly strong but it got better about half way through.   Quite a warm day - 70's.

Cold and rainy at lunch so I ran on the treadmill at the fitness center.  My running mix on the ipod actually makes treadmill running somewhat tolerable.  Warmed up at 8:00/mile and finished at 6:35/mile.   saved myself a little for tomorrow.   I will be running a 5K dressed as a very famous chocolate milk celebrity.   I'm glad it is supposed to be 40F at the start.

I put a unique handicap on myself during this race.  I was given the opportunity to compete as the Nesquik Bunny    My mom was visiting from Wisconsin and put together a nice Smilebox slide show of the event (click link).   It was great fun.   Lots of people wanted pictures, kids followed me around, my daughter and nieces were thrilled.  It made for a unique day for many people which makes me happy.  

 The costume was built really well and they did the best they could to make it suitable for running.  I was glad it was only around 50F because even with that it got hot.  The head is pretty heavy so I'm expecting a sore neck by tomorrow although it feels ok.       The whole costume slowed me down by 30 seconds per mile on average.   My first mile was 6 minutes but the heat and the weight wore me down by the final mile.     I kept Mike Greene in my sights the entire time.  He said he was fully aware a bunny was 100 yards behind him and did not want to get beat by a bunny.  I told him he was a very good carrot.  I did the same for him last weekend when I beat him by 30 seconds.

Got out of the costume and cooled down on miles 18-21 of the Rocket city marathon course.