Group Practice #13
8 miles on the schedule
Step-back week
Start time: 6:00 AM for walkers, 6:30 AM for runners

Today was absolutely BEE-YOO-TEE-FULL weather for us.  Slightly cooler than the average for this time of year, so it was about 77 degrees when we started and about 10 degrees warmer by the time we finished.  AWESOME!

Our Endurance Manger was missing from training today, he was recruiting people at a race for our fall season, so one of our mentors filled his role.  She did a great job as she told us all the fundraising updates (we’re just barely under $70,000 raised this season thus far!) and gave some kudos to a few individuals for the progress they made this week.

The walkers were supposed to start first, followed by the runners later on.  We tried to gather the walkers together to do a dynamic warm-up, but I’m pretty sure they were all still asleep… it was hard to get their attention!  But after our warm-up I set out with the walkers while Jimmy (my co-coach) waited to get the runners started.

We did the walking/running/biking path that goes through Pittman Wash in Henderson today.  We had 3 miles in one direction, then back to the starting point… followed up with 1 mile in the opposite direction and back.  While on the first leg I ran into a friend.  Completely unexpected, but it was so good to see her! (She’s really an awesome gal!)

We had a couple people drop out after 6 miles today.  They were feeling some aches and pains.  Hopefully we can get these things nailed down in the next 4 weeks.

The biggest news of the day was that the bathrooms at the starting park now have doors on the stalls.  Everyone hates this place because it used to be the ladies room consisted of open stalls with small metal toilets in them.  But today, there were doors!  There is nothing quite so vulnerable feeling as sitting on a toilet in wide open for anyone to walk in on you. 

Next weekend we have the pinnacle of our training… 11 miles!