Easy Day + Stretching

This morning, we met at 7:45 am for a nice relaxed run with Gilbert before the usual long stretching session. We ran at his relaxed pace, which was truly easy. Total run about 3.5 miles, at about 9:35/mile pace overall. We did some singing as we ran, chanting the Yon Gwe refrain as he sang African verses about how the lion was right behind us, or ahead of us, or off to the side...it was a lot of fun on a gloomy morning on a wet trail. Afterwards, we had a nice stretching session, and Gilbert gave us his suggestions on race strategy for the half marathon tomorrow. Basically, he wants us to go out nice and relaxed, and then crank it up after the hills, at about mile 7. Sounds like good advice, now will I do it that way?

It's on mornings like this, as I got the opportunity to share a morning run with a group of fellow runners and friends, that I realize just how lucky we all are to be able to do this. There's so many folks that can't or won't get off the couch or out of their houses, and they gasp and stagger through their days. And there we are, running a totally easy 3.5 miles at a pace that exceeds many runners' 5K race pace. We are blessed, and lucky to have both Gilbert as our leader and each other as running friends. I can't wait for tomorrow! Warmups at 6:30, an hour prior to the start of the race. Super easy jogging for the last mile of the race course and back, then drills and strides. I'm going to try to be disciplined enough tomorrow to also do a super easy 10-15 minute cooldown jog after the race as well.