~4 miles @ ~9 min/mi

After avoiding the locker room at the office gymnasium for a couple of decades I venture downstairs to the basement facility. If the sight of my godlike naked body makes mere mortals quail in embarrassment and/or envy, so what? Comrade Kate taunts me mercilessly about my lack of training during the week, and I've finally brought shoes, socks, shorts, and shirt in. My employer's policy encourages a few hours of fitness training weekly, and as a good worker bee I'm duty-bound to comply, eh?!

Almost all the treadmills and fancy exercise machines are occupied, but when I venture outside I have the hilly asphalt path entirely to myself. It's hard to understand why: temperatures are in the upper 30's and brisk northerly winds make for near-perfect running weather. My mile splits on three orbits are 8:49, 8:42, and 8:39, far faster than I expect. The setting sun blinds me whenever the course turns southwest. The woods are brown and dry, and no critters are out. My knees glow red from the chill as I return to the building.

^z - 2009-03-01