FREEDOM

 FREEEEEEEEEEDOM!!!

This is me, ecstatic.

You know what I did this morning? And what I'm doing right now? I'm lounging. In my room. On a Thursday. At noon. You know what I did yesterday? I went swimming. Because I can. Because my school year's finally over!

Thus far, freedom has meant a lot of sunsets.

My calendar's wide open for the next 2-8 weeks, depending on school stuff. I can't fathom having so much free time. The last time I had a break this long was in high school. What do people do when they have nothing to do? Plenty of running and hiking, certainly. And camping. And the beach! Waterskiing! Road trips! The possibilities are endless, and slightly overwhelming. I've got some fun things planned for the next week, though, so I'll leave planning the rest of my summer for another day.

So what does this mean for the blog? I'm back, baby! For now, at least.

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Since it's what brought me out of blogger isolation, I guess we should talk about that race, huh? This far out, there's not much to be said about it, other than "unless it's in Alaska, mid-summer races are dumb."*

The race was sold to me as a tough one, particularly the first mile, but it really wasn't that bad. The race starts in a nondescript neighborhood near Spencer Butte, which surprised me as I thought the "really steep part" was on the road that passes a lot of the Spencer trailheads. I don't really know where we were, but the first eight- or nine-tenths of a mile were very reasonably inclined. The last bit, not so much, but it was still runnable.

Unsurprisingly (to me, at least), the next couple of downhill miles were the toughest. I really dislike downhill running, and this descent was unrelenting. I went with it, though, and soon found myself on familiar roads in town. At that point, the sun was getting to me, but the temperatures were still semi-reasonable.

I haven't done any speedwork since last year and run the vast majority of my runs at a moseying 10:30 - ish pace, so I took it easy the first half of the race. My pace sped up naturally on the downhill, however, so I decided to keep the momentum going the second half of the race. By which I mean I ran 9:30's or so. Not blazing fast, but decent for my current fitness level. 

Garmin splits?! Haven't seen those in a while.

I finished in just under an hour, which was what I had unofficially declared as my goal for the race. At that point, I was a hot, sticky mess so we didn't hang around for long. I'm obviously a jaded curmudgeon, but I think race finishes are a pain in the ass. Usually I'm kind of miserable and just want a cold shower. Which I got, and which was glorious.

Here's a crappy photo of me from the race. Post-race, might I add. When my friend sent it to me I was like, "Seriously? I'm so slow these days that running and walking are indistinguishable?" I don't know why Forrest Gump on the right there is still running.

Here's to summer!

*[This is where I need to somewhat irrelevantly vent my frustration with the Eugene Marathon's decision to move the race to the end of July. I know, this is old news and it doesn't affect me in any way because I'm not even running it this year, but whyyyy?! Why take a race that happens during one of the most lovely (and cool!) springs I've ever experienced and throw it into the hellish hell that is July? Do you really think marathoners are going to be able to feel any sort of kinship with their track brethren when they're being carted off to the hospital? Oh, wait, sorry, the race starts at 6:00 a.m. to "beat the heat." Even worse.

In case you're wondering, I will not be spectating the race. Not out of protest or anything, but because it's too damn hot out. And because I should be hiking South Sister.]