10+ miles @ ~9.9 min/mi

The signature scene of today's run appears near the end, as I'm cantering past the Jim Henson memorial statue in front of the University of Maryland student union. A tiny girl in a white Sunday dress is standing on the granite bench next to Kermit the Frog, holding Henson's hand and looking as sweet as a kitten. What a perfect photo op—and me with no camera!

Low humidity (~35%) and light breezes make up for moderate warmth (80+°F) as I dash down Paint Branch Trail, skirt the southern shore of Lake Artemesia and the eastern end of College Park Airport, take the Northeast Branch Trail downstream, and return via the Northwest Branch Trail and University Blvd. Its a circuit I've done several times before [1]. I'm surprised when the first few mile markers flow by at a sub-10 min/mi rate. After that happens, alas, I have to keep the speedy streak alive. I manage to do so, barely, with miles 9:48, 9:59 (close!), 9:32, 9:59 (close again!), 9:34, 9:36, and 9:46. In unmeasured segments I try to stay honest and maintain my pace. Big puddles sporadically block the paved path and force detours onto the grass nearby.

^z - 2009-06-24