Well…I didn’t get that 90 minute run in on Thursday night like I had hoped. After a long day of work I was wiped and I didn’t have a 90 minute treadmill run in me. I snapped awake at 5 am on Friday and checked the weather on my phone. It said it was 3C out. Sounded like perfect conditions for a run! I got dressed, took a gel, pulled out my lululemon reflective gloves and my headlamp and got going. Seriously, how neat are these reflective gloves? They were so bright under the glow of my headlamp.
Perfect for running in the dark! Oof, my legs were sluggish in the first half an hour though. I’m sure it was a combination of just getting up and that the first part of my run has a fair bit of uphill grade. Finally my legs came around, I was easing into the run and my pace started to come down. Apart from the sluggish legs to start with everything was feeling great. There was no grief from my ankle and lower left leg. In fact, I wasn’t even thinking about it!
The neighbourhood was pretty quiet. Perfect for just listening to the thoughts inside my head or analyzing the shadows under my headlamp.
About 50 minutes into my run I remembered that a gel would probably be a good idea. I had packed a mandarin orange GU with me. I generally don’t like fruit flavoured gels but this mandarin orange one is delicious! Definitely a new favourite! I also tried out my new Asics Kayanos on the run. They felt just as comfortable as the previous incarnations, although my shoe laces kept coming untied. That’s okay, I’ll be swapping the laces out with some Yankz or Lock Laces soon since triathlon season is almost here!
As the sun came up I counted myself lucky that I had some time to myself on a beautiful morning to go for a run. I’m confident I can build the rest of the month to the BMO Vancouver Half. It may not be particularly speedy, but that’s okay. I have a few other races planned this year that I can work on my speed for.
Are you an early morning or an evening runner?
It must be nice to have the sidewalks mostly to yourself that early. Did you get to see the sun come up?
I definitely like to get my workouts in in the morning. Otherwise they might not happen.
Early morning but not crazy about the dark.