Seeing Red

Last week, while Mr. B and I sat at his preschool orientation, I was suddenly elbowed in the ribs.  I looked at my little Man and he said, "don't get a red slip!"

You see, the preschool director had just finished explaining their policy on picking your children up late.  To be honest, I never even heard her.  I was busy, ever so rudely, replying to my husbands text instead of listening.  Therefore, Mr. B had to fill me in.  I would be charged a set amount  of money if I was up to 5 minutes late.  From there, I would be charged on a per minute basis.  I would receive a red slip in Mr. B's folder letting me know what I owed.

Ouch.

My almost 5 year old knows me too well.

I am always late.

So, it has become my goal to never be late to pick up.  Never!

With all our kids in school, I now have the luxury of running during school hours.  I drop Mr. B off at preschool and off I go.  He is always sure to ask how far I'm going and not so gently reminds me not to get a red slip.

Last week, in order to avoid being late, I ran 8 before pick-up and finished up with 2 more on the treadmill after we got home.

Today, I had 13 on the schedule.  To be honest, I thought it would be another day of finishing up after pick up.

13.

13 miles that had me carbing up last night and downing my H2O.  However, this morning, I almost cancelled and left my 13 for tomorrow.  I was seeing red in another way.  Not a red slip from preschool.  Red from you know what.  Red that had me aching and feeling disgusting.  Red that had me wondering if I could really get 13 in without having to rush to a bathroom.

Red.

Then, I realized that if I didn't run this morning, I would have wasted all those wonderful carbs from last night.  That I would have to do that again.  I just didn't want to.  This morning it would be...


I got started a little after 9:00 and knew that I would be happy to get 10 in, perhaps 11...

9:06
9:06

Man, this is feeling good.  Knowing I'm faster that my normal easy pace.  Remembering Mile Posts, See Mom Run Far or Tall Mom - or all three!  You have to run faster to run faster.  Maybe I'll just keep it here for the whole run...

8:52
8:41

This is feeling REALLY good!  It's beautiful outside!  I'm loving this...

8:30
8:15

52:38 at 6 miles in.  Really??  I do the math.  Maybe.  Just maybe, I can get all my miles in...

8:16
8:31
8:28
8:28

1:26:11.  10 miles.  I've got this!!  I won't be late!!  I can get all 13!!!  Here I go!!!

8:31
8:34
8:20

And why not add the .1 for kicks??

44:50 (7:34 pace!)

13.1 miles.  1:52:21.  A 4 minute and 4 second P.R.

Holy cow!

Apparently, all I need to do is run like I'm going to be late for preschool pick up!