New Turnarounds Rock! (even when you are in a rush)

Before bed last night, my hubby told me that he needed me back home by X:30 today so he could meet a customer with the backhoe this morning.

That meant one of several possibilities: a) run shorter than the 17 I had planned, b) get up earlier (that sometimes works), or c) try to run the planned distance fast enough to get back in time. As events had it, I DID NOT get up any earlier than usual and DID NOT try to cut my run short (Ha ha! read this blog long enough, and you might see a pattern develop).

Since I drove out a small section veering off of a regular LR route I use yesterday, I figured I had the perfect 17 miler laid out for today.  I LOVED the new off-shoot from the route. There were several stops on the way to it, however. And, though the details might be interesting, I will only say that I have some garments to go drive and pick up today that were so irritating that they had to be removed mid run. I am not sure of the lapsed time, but I did stop my watch at least once- and that's not my norm!

With less on I was feeling good and came close to the new turnaround. This is completely in the opposite direction from the route where I usually see the elk, but on the horizon of a hill at the end of the road, there they were! Only three cows, but surely the rest of the herd was on the other side of the hill. Just seeing them makes my run fantastic- even at a distance.

On the way back, I turned on my ipod and started to crunch running numbers. I knew I needed to get back soon and figured I could make hubby's window, but barely. About 4 miles from home, I felt a twinge in my R achilles, like cramping. I stopped to massage it momentarily and proceeded, but with concentration on my form that would emphasize less toe-off and similar cadence. It seemed to help.

Then a GREAT song came on and put new breeze behind me: Barlow Girl, Beautiful Ending (video)

Oh, tragedy
Has taken so many
Love lost cause they all
Forgot who You were
And it scares me to think
That I would choose
My life over You
Oh, my selfish heart
Divides me from You
It tears us apart

So tell me
What is our ending?
Will it be beautiful
So beautiful?

Oh, why do I
Let myself let go
Of Hands that painted the stars
And hold tears that fall?
And the pride of my heart
Makes me forget
It's not me but You
Who makes the heart beat
I'm lost without You
And dying from me

So tell me
What is our ending?
Will it be beautiful
So beautiful?

Will my life
Find me by Your side?
Your love is beautiful
So beautiful

At the end of it all
I wanna be in Your arms
At the end of it all
I wanna be in Your arms
At the end of it all
I wanna be in Your arms
At the end of it all
I wanna be in Your arms

So tell me
What is our ending?
Will it be beautiful
So beautiful?
Will my life
Find me by Your side?
'Cause Your love is beautiful
So beautiful

The song is a wonderfully fitting tune for this point in my life; and, the video holds the answer to the questions in the above lyrics. I have confidence in how it all will end. Sometimes I just need to be gently reminded to get back on course.

When I reached the mailbox, I had finished in 2:32XX , two minutes slower than my fastest 17 miler! Not bad! I hoofed it to the house and let hubby get to work. Then, just before posting this, I mapped the route only to discover I had actually ran 18. WTHeck?? Maybe I need a little pressure more often! Ha.