What a Great Workout!

Today’s run was AWESOME! I wasn’t sure what to expect because Monday’s run was not-so-great. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the weather either–so I dressed for everything. Hat and longer sleeves in case it rained. Sunglasses if it was sunny.

Ready for Anything

Today there were no aches and pains and I was fast! I ran the loop and also incorporated some speed-work as I went. I wasn’t focusing on speed-work by any means but I did a few sets of intervals (running as fast as I can). It felt really good!

Usually when I run the loop (whichever direction I start), I gauge my “good run time” by what time I reach either the Hawthorne or Steel Bridge. I strive to get there by 22 minutes at the slowest. Either of the bridges mark the 3/4 mark or so of the entire loop. Today, I got there at 20 minutes!

20:39 to be exact! That’s when I did about 3/4 of the loop. I paused just before the Steel Bridge to take a picture and I decided to go the “long way” by running up the stairs and running across the TOP of the Steel Bridge instead of staying on the lower pedestrian path.

I took a deep breath and ran up BOTH flights of stairs to the top without stopping or slowing, taking the stairs two at a time.

Stairs

The picture isn’t great, but imagine me starting at the very bottom and running up all those stairs to the left of the photo. That’s what I did!

The two above pictures were taken from the top of the Steel Bridge. I ran across the bridge to the other side of the river:

Steel Bridge

Luckily it did not rain at all during my lunch time run. I was happy! I ran down the other side of the bridge and back to the waterfront. My time was still pretty great. I ran that extra 1/4 of a mile or so of the waterfront and then headed back to the office. I have no official number for how many miles I did and that bugs me. I think I need to move “Buy a Garmin” to the top of my To Do List!!

Today was also the first day in a long time where I was BUMMED that I had to go back to the office. My legs wanted to keep running! I had so much energy! I wanted to just keep going. But alas, I headed back.

I got back to the office and stupidly decided to run up the stairs to the locker room instead of taking the elevator as I usually do. 7 floors later…..

…I was asking myself “Why did I take the stairs again?” Oooof my quads were burning! Showered, stretched A LOT and it felt good!

My calories burned were AWESOME today! I was shocked when I saw my number:

Sweaty, hot, happy and tired:

Today’s Stats:

Time: 35:33

Calories Burned: 505

Nike+ Pace: 9’17”

QUESTION: How do you mix up your runs to keep them interesting?