Valley (running) boy

I got my 12 miler out of the way this morning. I went the same route I took a few weeks ago before the Frederick Half Marathon, but it took me about a minute and a half longer this time. I'm still feeling some stubborn lingering pain in my foot and I guess a combination of that, starting off a little too quickly, yesterday's hills during the 5K race, and a pretty crappy diet over the last few days all contributed to the slower time.

Even so, I made it through one monster hill and a bunch of small to medium ones and I'm no worse for wear, so I guess I'm ready for my half marathon next Sunday. My flight to Boston leaves early Friday afternoon.

Speaking of monster hills, since I have to run through a valley to get a run in as long as 11 or 12 miles without either running loops around my neighborhood or running along a major thoroughfare, I have to run down this crazy decline going into the valley that lasts about a half mile or so. The downhill comes about 2.5 miles into the run and I usually use it to catch my breath and prepare for the even crazier incline 3 miles down the road to take me out of the valley.

But for the first time ever my running down that hill didn't energize me. I was going down the hill thinking to myself how I was going to be happy to have that part over with so I could get back to "real" running. I have no idea what that means, if anything. Probably nothing other than I'm getting tired of that route.

Tomorrow is a glorious non-running day. The modified taper week begins now.