Just missed the rain...

I wondered if I would get a run in today.  After all, the storms that pounded the midwest on Monday were moving in.  The sky was full of dark, ominous clouds.  The coastal flood warnings were already in place.  But the temperature was nice and as long as I was determined not to let another day pass me by.  So I hit the road.  Everything was working well, I was keeping a decent pace, the air was only partially heavy with pollen, and there was just enough sun to necessitate the sunglasses (which came in greater use later in my run as a shield against the minor dust storm at Lincoln Park). 

I only had one problem that apparently a two day rest did nothing to alleviate.  If you are a frequent traveller, you know there are health risks to long flights.  In fact, most airlines now include in flight exercise recommendations in the seat pocket magazines.  For me, the problem comes in my knees.  I've always had knee problems.  This causes me to be one of those people who walks around the plane often on a long flight or face really severe knee pain from a fluid build up.  Last weekend's flights amounted to a total of 28 hours of flight time...lots of need to walk around, which I did.  But no amount of walking around can get out all the lingering fluid.  It necessitates a bit more vigorous exercise.  So, taking Sunday and Monday off did me no favors.  During my run, my knees were so tight I thought they might burst.  A light run on Sunday or Monday would have been a better option and made my real training run much more comfortable.  Lesson learned.

I contemplated the lesson for much of the run, interjecting often with hopes that the rain would hold off just long enough for me to hit four miles (which it did, thank the heavens).  I enjoyed a tailwind (for once!) most of the run and survived the pollen.  It was a pleasant time to run and I found a few new signs of the coming summer with the explosion of roses and clematis in the yards of Capitol Hill.  It's enough to keep you moving.  Oh, and the heavens did in fact open up almost as soon as I walked back in the office building (I got a few drops on my nose on my way in).  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  4.36
Time:   36:36 (average pace of 8:23 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Lincoln Park
Feeling:  Tight knees, strong heart