Our group run today was scheduled for noon, right at the time when the sun was high and bright warming the temperatures into the mid-50's. That's a heat wave for early March in southwestern Vermont, but the weather this winter has been consistently unusual. I just received a new running skirt and was anxious to try it out, pasty white legs and all.
Usually 4-6 women show up for the Wednesday noon run, but today Fern and Harriet weren't feeling well, Carol is in California, and Patty had to work. At 12:05 I decided it was time for a solo run, and headed out for two loops, each 5 miles.
Today's 10 mile run was supposed to be an easy, basebuilding run but I couldn't help myself: I pushed the pace. As I ran out of town on Richville Road into a strong south wind, I shortened my stride and aimed for a higher leg turnover. I decided to push myself even harder up the hills, enjoying the sun in my face and the feeling of the running skirt against my legs.
The first run of the Spring in shorts is always special. There are still pockets of snow along the road, the ski areas remain busy, and it's going to get below freezing again tonight. The freedom of running without mittens, neckwarmer, hat, tights, and jacket is liberating, and I decided to keep pushing the pace once I turned around at the top of a hill on Richville Road. I promised myself I'd slow down on the second 5 mile loop.
As the post office where I parked my car came into sight, I saw Liz from our group walking toward me. Somehow we miscommunicated the time of today's run, and she started a bit before 1pm for a 2 mile fast walk. I decided to walk 2 miles out and back with her, catching up on her life and learning about a woman in Salem who makes fantastic soap and hand lotion from goat milk and healing herbs she grows in her garden. Liz promised to give me a sample of the lotion as she finished her 2 miles and I headed off for the second of my 5 mile loops.
This time I ran easily, listening to the birds, watching the clouds float across the sky, and dodging the melting snow puddles on the sidewalk. Turn around at the Town Hall and then a slight downhill back into town, with a steep downhill on Center Hill; my reward for the faster and hillier first 5 mile loop of the afternoon.
There's much to savor about today's run: feeling strong pushing the pace, early Spring sunshine, the surprise of meeting Liz, a new running skirt with shorts that don't ride up into my crotch. This one's a keeper.
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