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Playing hooky – And so worth it!

I tried really hard to get out of bed this morning and go for my scheduled run. But it was warm in bed and looked grey outside. And I was feeling tired. So I rolled over, went back to sleep for an hour and figured I’d go for a run during lunch. See, normally, I just work right through lunch – I eat at my desk and except for leafing through the Times and checking the headlines on ESPN, I don’t really take a “break”. Today though, I did – I left the office, changed at the gym and went out for a long run. I’m entitled to take a lunch. So, it wasn’t really “hooky”, but it felt like it!

Anyway, I was out on the West Side Highway running along, wearing one of my CAF hats, as usual. I ran past three young women walking on the path and one of them had what was obviously a sports/running prosthetic on her left leg. She looked at me and smiled and said “Hi”, and I waved but kept running. I figured she was a serious athlete and as I was running along I was thinking that maybe it was this CAF spokesperson/athlete named Sarah Reinertsen. I’ve read a ton about Sarah and she’s a total bad-ass. Sarah was the first female amputee to complete the Ironman at Kona – and she did it in an amazing 15:05 (that’s obviously her in the picture at the top). She’s won all kinds of awards and competed in triathlons and other endurance events all over the world.

After I saw them, I kept thinking that it might be Sarah and was wondering if I would see them again on the running path… and wondering if I would have the cojones to stop and speak with her if I did. I did my Strides in my normal spot on one of the piers, and as luck would have it, right as I was finishing and getting ready for my cool down, there they were. I said “Hi” again, but was still too nervous and embarrassed to approach them, so I kept running. But after a few minutes, I turned around, came back and stopped to talk to her. Of course, it was Sarah. She’s in town for a Nike event at Macy’s. I talked to her for a few minutes about CAF and training and racing. She was really nice and it was super cool to meet her. I was really excited to meet such a great athlete – and someone who represented what I spent a lot of 2007 being inspired by and thinking about. I spent the rest of my cool-down trying trying trying to keep my pace under control. Needless to say, I’m psyched I stopped to talk to her!

Indoor bike – January 8
Time: 45 minutes
Average heart rate: 115

Run – January 8
Distance: 6.25 miles
Time: 50 minutes
Average heart rate: 141
Course: West Side Highway
Conditions: Evening run, high 50’s, clear

Swim – January 9
Distance: 3,750
Time: 1:10

Strength – January 9

Run – January 10
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 1:00
Average heart rate: 144
Course: West Side Highway, Strides
Conditions: Sunny, nice (high-40’s)