Last Run morning run before Half Marathon

ERA of…WTF…Joy and Resistance

When I first woke up, I heard the rain—heavy rain. I needed to get a shake-out run in before my first half marathon of the year on Saturday. I went back to sleep and begrudgingly resigned myself to the idea of heading to the Y for the elliptical and treadmill. I slept a little longer.

Then, after a ten-minute snooze, I woke to birds chirping. The rain had stopped, and the birds were celebrating. No Y today, but I still needed to get my ass moving. This girl was tired—still recovering from a week in Jacksonville, Florida, at a sociology conference. The theme was “Empowered Sociologists.” Between serving on the program committee, networking with colleagues, and learning strategies to navigate anti-education, anti-diversity, anti-everything administrations, I was mentally spent.

I’m still processing it all. Add to that union chapter president elections—I participated in a presidential debate totally unprepared. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t be running. Hopefully, I won’t be re-elected. That’s a story for another day.

Anyway, back to the run. Monday was strength training. Tuesday, my last Track Tuesday at the Reggie. Wednesday, rest. Thursday—run day.

I didn’t wear much, but it was still too much because I got hot. Then I checked: 52 degrees. Makes sense—Saturday’s run will be similar. Note taken.

I started slow. My heart was racing, my mind scattered. I had to synchronize body and mind. The run unfolded like a scene in slow motion. Planned for 5k, I ended up covering 5 miles—around the waterfront, over the bridge into Chelsea, across the highway bridge, around the park, then home.

The flowers were out. Everything green was thriving. Birds were singing. Life, despite its chaos, was just enjoying itself. The first two miles were warm-up; by mile three, I found my groove. Breathing and running were in sync. This is how Saturday will go.

5.04 miles in 1:01:58 at a 12:18 mile pace. My goal has always been to run five miles or more in an hour—part of my strategy for Every Woman’s Marathon. I’m on track. A victory