Whew!

Mike, Bill and I met up at 55th and Brookside in Kansas City at 6:30 a.m. for a 10-mile run. The temp was under 70 when I got up at 5:15, but by the time we started our run it was 75 and climbing rapidly.

We ran together for the first 3 miles, then Bill dropped back, and a mile or so later, Mike dropped back as well. At that point I was running in the shade on Ward Parkway, against a gentle breeze and flat to downhill. I had two pretty fast miles (under 9), but then I decided I needed to slow down if I was going to make it to the end in good shape.

When I turned off Ward and headed west with about 2.5 miles left, I lost most of my shade and breeze, and when I turned north on the trail it was all gone. The sun was up pretty high by then, too, and it was hot. The last two miles sounded like a long way, so I cut the pace back, drank the water I had, and reminded myself that two miles was only 20-22 min. of running, and that I could always do that. Good thing it was only a couple miles, because I really had to force myself to keep going in the last half mile.

The final total was 10.65 min. in 1:48:01, for a 10:09 pace. When I finished, I was dripping wet head to foot from sweat.