6 Miles with East Nasty

I've been meaning to join a running club in Nashville, as I know it's going to be really hard to get through a longer run by myself.  So today I joined the East Nasties for their Sunday morning long run.  Our intern, Chad, ran it with me too.  And when I say he 'ran it with me,' I really mean he ran one mile ahead of me the whole time and finished 9 minutes before me.  He has long legs.

Turns out there are mountains in Nashville.  If you didn't know, they're hidden in Percy Warner Park - and they're a bitch to run.  This 6 mile 'novice' run was basically a twisting, winding run to the top of a mountain and back down.  If you haven't guessed it yet... the first half of the run was super fun!  I love running 3+ miles consistently uphill.  ....And that's my sarcasm showing through.

But I actually really did have a great time.  Everyone's super nice and supportive.  And they give you free Gatorade at the end of the run.  Most are training for the Music City 1/2 Marathon.  I'm definitely running with the East Nasty group every Sunday from now on.  They also do a shorter run at 6pm on Wednesdays, which I heard is a lot more fun because they all go out for a drink afterwards.  Remember when I wrote of carbo-loading?  Beer gets an A+ in that class.

Day 61: Five Miles

Last Sunday I ran 5 MILES.  I told ya I would.  And I did.  I really did.  I'd like to thank Catie for posting that she ran 8 miles the other day.  I realize I ran 5 miles out of jealousy (last time I checked I was only one mile behind Catie in training - when did she start running more mileage?!) - which shouldn't be a motivator - but hey, I'm taking whatever works here.

I tried my hardest to find a different route than my usual Vanderbilt loop, just for a change of scenery.  I wanted to run around the Belmont/12South area, but after driving the route I found it wayyyyy too hilly.  Nashville needs to relax with the hills - seriously.  But I couldn't find any alternative route that I felt comfortable with, so I just expanded my four mile route (below) to include one extra mile.  Despite getting a bit bored with the scene, this is a great route - sidewalks the whole way, safe, relatively flat with one big hill at the end.  It's perfect.

I've had a terrible cold for the past week and I haven't run at all since my triumphant Sunday.  But I feel much better today and I plan on getting back out there on Saturday.  Still avoiding treadmills at all costs.

Bumping it up.

This week I ran eight miles in total so far.  I was planning on running four tomorrow.  I'm getting way too comfortable at four, but lack the motivation to bump it up.

Catie just posted that she ran eight miles for the first time today.

Annnnd... that was the motivation I needed.  Five miles tomorrow.