I ran Sanitas today, wanting a tempo effort, and something that would tax me cardiovascularly but not sap my legs. I want to come back and run the Oatmeal Fest 5K as a test to see where I have come (or gone) since Thanksgiving.
Sanitas is a nice little compact climb. 15-20 minute and you are done. I think I have done this in the 17s, but in referencing the log from last year, I can only find that I did it as quick as 18:38. Today, I went into it carefully, at a tempo mentality. When I saw where I was at when the watch hit 18, I figured I could make a go to break 20 and did with a 19:56. It was a little icy on the upper half, and this did cause some slipping. I got a good little burn in the end, but I have to say, this was one of the best workouts I have felt in a bit. It was controlled, but a solid push. I felt that I could dig in a bit. So all good. The downhill was a bit more of a trick - it actually took 15:17 to come down. I was not looking to fly down but I had to be careful with all that dang ice!
After all this, I ran into downtown and ran with MK for a chunk. As has come commonplace with my runs with MK - we shared great conversation. MK is my brother - we connect so easily. I can tell you a million things about MK - all you need to know is he my brother. Today's conversation was a mix of discussion on his high school coach (killed while running at the age of 39 by a car), our families, the caloric bank account, current training (this section is mostly about me because while MK runs right now, he will tell you himself - he is not training), blogs, the 'Rock, and workouts we used to do that seemed normal at the time that seem out of reach (but they ain't) now.
Round trip today was 90 minutes, 11 miles. | 