Sunny and +16 C

Joy here...Oh my gosh!  (Or OMG! as it were)  The weather was lovely yesterday, with the mercury topping out at +16 C.  Let me tell you that after a whole winter of weather below zero, that +16 C felt warm and balmy.  I put on my tank top, put on some sunscreen, and went out the door for my run.  I couldn't believe what a difference it makes to run while you can actually feel the warmth on your skin.  It was a sensation that I had long forgotten.  I hadn't remembered what it felt like to run and feel a cool breeze on my bare arms.  I hadn't remembered what it felt like to feel sunlight on my bare arms.  I had forgotten just how lovely it feels to be connected to your environment rather than protected from it.  So we ran along the gravel path by the Ottawa River that separates the province of Ontario from the province of Quebec and basked, simply basked.

And all that basking actually produced faster running too!  I've been grappling with the fact that even though I was able to increase my distances this winter with my minimal running I was unable to run at a pace that I would be happy with.  And, well, really throughout the winter months, it was enough of a battle just to get out the door, I wasn't about to complain too loudly or vociferously about my lack of speed.

However, yesterday's run was at a nice, comfortable pace that made me remember what it was like to train for that half marathon last summer.  I'm now starting to think that with six weeks to go until our next half marathon, we just might not be half bad afterall!

Here are my run stats:
Ran for a total of 1:09:38 for a distance of 12kms with an average pace of 5:48min/km.

Over and out,
Joy