First Outdoor Run of the Season!

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and teens were making out in the park. Everyone was enjoying the Brady Bunch sunshine kind of day!



I have been feeling really congested lately with a deep old man’s cough. But- it was a beauty day and my friend just told me about an amazing run he just had so, I wanted to go for a run too. I decided that the first outdoor run of the season is always going to be a slower paced run. I was about to deal with wind, hills, air quality, and saying “Hi” and giving a genuine smile to my running friends as we pass each other. I was expecting to run a pace of 5:45/km at the absolute slowest. I figured a good playlist for this run should be an easy-going one that is filled with old classics.

The Playlist:
Angel of Harlem- U2
No Rain- Blind Melon
The Boys Are Back In Town- Thin Lizzy
Born to Run- Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Mysterious Ways- U2
Ballroom Blitz- Blue Oyster Cult
Life is a Highway- Tom Petty
Lust For Life- Tom Jones with The Pretenders
American Woman- Lenny Kravitz
Back in the USSR- The Beatles
Are You Gonna Go My Way- Tom Jones with Robbie Williams
Southbound- Thin Lizzy
Life in the Fast Lane- The Eagles

I was really excited to do this run because I bought one of those Amphipod belt water bottle holders and was excited to use it. But- I literally ran for 3 seconds and it kept jumping up and down because I didn’t make it tight enough. It started to really bother me so I ran back to my house, threw it inside, grabbed my klean kanteen and ran out the door again. I will have to adjust the size and let you know how I feel about it another day. But- I felt lighter when I went out for my run again and I was ready to just run. I found myself starting to get to the hills and wondering how far I had gone and what my pace was like instead of just enjoying my run in the sun. Unfortunately, my hacking cough came back 2.5km into my run. I wasn’t going to let that stop me so I looked over and saw teens making out on a hill and that distracted my mind for a while! Especially when they got awkward when they saw me running by. Oh, to be young again!

As I kept running through the phlegm I came across some dogs. Now as much as dogs can be fun- I don’t want them to chase me because they think I am playing with them. So, I start to run the pace of the runner in front of me until they pass the dog. This way I can see if the dog is going to bite the runner in front of me and if I will be OK to run past the dog. Yep- that is selfish but also smart for my well being. ha! This could also be a factor to why my running pace isn’t as fast when I do my first outdoor run! But- that’s OK, it means I won’t loose a limb!

The rest of the run was great! I was running against the wind for awhile but it was nice to have fresh air. When I ran in my last kilometer (all uphill) I was still feeling great. Until I stopped, stretched, and coughed it out. Not attractive. haha!

Cool Down/Stretching:
Don’t Stop Believin’- Glee Cast
You Can’t Always Get What You Want- Glee Cast


And then I picked up a golf club and hit a few practice balls in my backyard. Golf is a new sport I decided to take up. I always wanted to learn how to play so I decided, why not make this the year I actually do it! It’s a great cross-trainer and I’m actually having a lot of fun learning the new sport!

Stats of the Run:
Distance: 9 km

Pace: 5:15 min/km
Calories: 389

5 thoughts on “First Outdoor Run of the Season!

  1. Hey Girl—

    That's a great run! You are a speed demon! I just did a race and paced 5:17 min/km and that was a RACE! Wow. 5:15 min/km on a training run is pretty sweet fast. I wonder what your “slow” pace is!

    Happy Trails,

    Runner Mama

  2. Aww, thanks! Well, my outdoor runs are usually in the 4 minutes per km. So, hopefully I can get back to that pace. But- I'm not sure about a race time yet, I will keep you posted on that!

  3. you are still smoking past me indoors or out! I tried running inside for the first time in 2 years when we were in Punta Cana, couldn't do it! I sucked it up and went outside and ran in the 30-something degree heat.
    BTW, what half did you decide upon? I am doing the countdown to May 30 for my Ottawa attempt

  4. Thanks friends!

    Susan- smokin' hot heat is so hard to run in! But the sand beneath your toes is amazing!

    I had a wee bit of a stall on my runs … hence the lack of blogging. I iwhs I was ready to do the May 30th in Ottawa! I was seriously considering it! I'm thinking the Scotiabank half will be my first. (And- I definitely want to run it!) Are you doing it?! It's in your hood!

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