I got outside for my six mile run today. It’s a high of 39 degrees and sunny. This some of the best weather I have had since I started my training. It’s difficult to run more than 4 miles downtown, and I don’t know how well I will perform on nasty hills. So, I ran from downtown to the University of Cincinnati. I giant hill separates Clifton from downtown. I figured that I could see how West Clifton Avenue goes. I know I can barely bike up that nasty hill from my experiences biking to class. I also know that West Clifton is steeper than Gilbert from biking home from the office when I lived in Norwood.

I did way better on that hill than I expected. I managed to keep up a 5mph pace the whole way to the top. It felt really great to be able to run to Clifton and back with ease. I couldn’t even run a mile in high school, and here I am at 34 running my ass up enormous hills. The run back down was unexpectedly difficult. I didn’t realize how much I pound my heels running down steep hills until I was doing so in the FiveFingers. It’s really uncomfortable to strike with my heels in the FiveFingers, so I found myself fighting against gravity the whole way down the hill. I can’t believe I’m about to write this, but I was relieved when I was done going down that hill.

One other minor discovery, salt and broken glass look remarkably similar. If I was in my running shoes I wouldn’t have even thought about it. But broken glass on the sidewalk is sort of a hallmark of Over the Rhine and Clifton.  

I had a revelation yesterday. I have been persistently sore since I started the training four weeks ago. It’s not joint soreness; it’s muscle soreness. It dawned on me yesterday that I’m probably not getting enough protein. I eat meat, but Jenn my partner doesn’t so all my home cooking is meat free. I only eat meat when we go out. According to varying sources, I should be eating 110 to 150 grams of protein per day. I know for a fact that I’m not getting any were near that much. I don’t think I’m even getting half that amount. Sorry about that body. I’m looking in to protein powders so I can make smoothies for breakfast. More on that to come.

Total Miles logged: 86.8

Days until the pig: 91

Miles run today: 6

Average pace: 5.3 mph