Not quite 13.

There was no way I was going to waste this magnificent morning, so after I did 30 minutes of Pilates and got the kids off to school, I went out for a run.  I used a 4:1 run/walk ratio and did a 12.7 mile loop.  I even left the house wearing only a tank top and shorts, and sunblock - the first time this year I haven't started out with layers!  It was about 50 degrees when I started, and with the wind blowing, my hands and face felt cold for the first 5 miles or so.  After that it warmed up and now it's about 80 degrees out there.  My mp3 player crapped out on me about a mile into my run.  I'm not sure why, it was charged I think, but it is about 5 years old, so who knows.  Anyway, I tucked it away in my belt pocket and with the lack of distractions I just focused on the rhythm of my feet.  The first half of the run, I could tell that I wasn't going very fast because my legs were feeling a little sluggish.  By the second half, I felt more "warmed up" and was able to pick up my pace a bit.  In the end I had an average pace of 11:20 min/mile, which is pretty good for a run that long and taking the walk breaks.  Right now though, as I sit here typing this, my calves are shaking and twitching, not too sure what that's about.

I was reading another runner's Facebook status the other day where he posted this quote by Bart Yasso, endurance athlete and Runner's World contributor:

"I often hear someone say I'm not a real runner.  We are all real runners, some just faster than others.  I've never met a fake runner."

I'd read this quote before, but it was good to read it again and be reminded of the importance of not comparing ourselves with others.  It's hard to do, but if we can focus on just trying to do our best and improve on our own individual achievements, I know we could be much happier with each success.