Post Holiday Run

Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s)	1:09:27	8:56 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s)	1:09:27	8:56 pace
Distance (mi )	7.76
Moving Speed (mph)	6.7 avg.	13.5 max.
Elevation Gain (ft)	+173 / -173
Temperature (°F)	24.8°F avg.	24.8°F high
Wind Speed ( mph)	WSW 9.8 avg.	WSW 10.4 max.

Start Time: 2:23:42 PM CDT

Back in Chicago for a gathering with my family, the pace of activities left too little time to go running yesterday, so I adjusted my off-days. Today involved family photos (at a studio) and a possible shopping trip threatened to turn this into a third day off, but the weather and Linus's lack of nap pushed us home and gave me the hour I needed.

This adjustment had the added benefit of giving my left leg a little more rest. I am no longer convinced that it is my knee---thinking that it may be a hamstring or quad . . . or---a back issue. I note too that it is the right shoulder that has been bugging me these past few weeks on long runs, which is the counter swing to the left leg. Thinking back to some leg pain that left me limping a few years ago---it was actually a back issue. The floating nature of the pain makes me think that I am experiencing something that is not specific to the legs themselves. I may start addressing some back issues with a combination of core exercises focussed on lower back to see if that clears it up. This is a nuisance 'injury'. It does not slow me significantly, but it will definitely make the 5k slower than I could run it unless it just goes away.

The snow covered beaches on South Lakeshore Drive are fantastic. Among the many factors that promote my running addiction is the time spent along the lakefront. The changes in colors and the smell of the air becomes something one longs for. I loved the hills in StL this past week, and the run along the river is great---but StL has too-few places where a person can run past interesting scenery without having to drive to get there--and while the runs around Blackjack were geographically interesting, the lack of space on most roadways forces one onto the broken or non-existent sidewalk pretty quickly. Here, the lakefront path is a constant, but so much changes---the lake itself is different every day, for instance---color, waves, activity, etc. Even when I start to find aspects of it dull, three days later it is interesting again. Glad to be back.