Keep on Keep'n On

This evening I ran just under 5 miles (probably 4 and three quarters) in 48 minutes.  Someday, I'm going to figure out exactly how long that stretch is between my office and the trail head.  It takes me four minutes to get to the trailhead, so I just assume it's just under half a mile (because I'm a consistent 10-minute miler).  Just before taking off, two runners caught the trail in front of me while I stretched.  I made it my mission to catch up with them.  The first one, a girl, I caught up with within half a mile.  She was just on a leisurely stroll.  So my next target was the big fella in red.  And I Almost had him, when he turned around before I quite got him.  Shucks.  Now what's to motivate me?  I started my run thinking I'd do an easy 3 or 3.5 miles.  But chasing those two got my blood going and I decided to go to the 2 mile mile-marker.  I continued to push myself down the trail even though my rabbit copped out on me.  I hit the 2 mile mile-marker and pushed even harder on the way back.  For a short minute my left knee started to ache and for a long several minutes my stomach muscles cramped.  But I kept on keep'n on. 

During my run I tried to figure out my training schedule for the rest of the week.  I kept looking at all the bikers passing me on the trail and thinking to myself, "I should try that."  I've talked about taking up biking for a few years now.  Perhaps I'll actually do it and start working towards my dream of competing in a triathlon someday.  Except I can't help but think of that 200 mile relay the Tennessee Running Chics did through the cornfields of Indiana, where I road a bike along side a runner or two, or the bike rode me.  It's a long story, but trust me, it was a disaster.  Lesson learned - I'm a TERRIBLE bike rider.  When people say, "eah, it's just like riding a bike!"  I Always have a comeback.  "But you haven't SEEN me on a bike.  Not a pretty site."  But alas, keep on keep'n on, right?  Perhaps I will venture towards that triathlon someday. 

I definitely pushed myself today.  I picked up the pace and went a little further than planned.  Things I should do everyday, with most things in life.  And for some reason my cheeks were aching when I got done!  No, not my bum cheeks but my cheeks cheeks.  So weird!  I suppose I was grimacing too hard.  :)