Under Leaden Skies

John called yesterday at 7 a.m. and asked, "Do you want to do it?" I looked out the window, seeing grey threatening skies and low light but no rain and said, "Let's do it."

Thirty minutes later, our seven mile run from Bluemont Park to Shirlington and back on the W&OD Trail was underway. Hurricane Irene was offshore somewhere to the south, approaching, but although the air was incredibly moisture-laden and the skies were ominous, the weather was as yet clear. This would be the longest run for me since the Army 10-Miler two years ago at which I got hurt, a cumulative over-use type debilitating tendon injury to my left ankle.

John is getting ready for this year's Army in early October. I have no plans for any race in mind, I am just desirous of stretching out my runs, lengthening my endurance and dropping some more weight, It feels great to be out on the trail working the miles early on a Saturday morning with a friend, nodding to other runners as they pass, with the whole weekend stretching luxuriously before you by the time you finish before 9 a.m.

We did 9:45s on the way down to Shirlington and 10-somethings running uphill on the way back, finishing in 71 minutes. At the end we threw in a long, hard, exhilarating sprint trying to overtake a running Mom in the distance who was pushing a laden stroller. Our run under leaden skies had been perfect.