Running Journal, Wednesday, 2011-03-09: Lots to See

Running Journal, Wednesday, 2011-03-09

Resting heart rate: 69 bpm (60 second test, 60 minutes after exercise)
Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.73 (kilograms/(meters^2))
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR): 1,846 calories
Weather: moon (waxing crescent @ 21%), partly clear; calm; 94% humidity; 102.22kPa (30.19 inches pressure)

Temp: 10 C (50 F)
Time: 8:30-9:15 p.m.

Terrain: flat; +/- 11 m (36 ft)

Comments: First time running in my local neighborhood in a number of nights. A late start; we ran a few errands this evening--picked up the CSA box, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond. Then meal prep, cleanup, and finally ready for running. Sort of. I lay back on the bed to put on shorts and it felt really good, almost too good to leave. Altocumulus clouds in the sky reflected moon light and city light in a mixture of white and orange. I turned in several circles while running to take it all in. There is, perhaps contrary to intuition, a lot to see while running at night. As I mentioned on Monday, illuminated colors contrast sharply with the shades of gray and black. The tops of trees appear as shadows against the night sky. Yards and streets in general are well illuminated. Animal activity is limited to the occasional stray cat or owner and dog. It is worth noting, at the risk of stating the obvious, that all the objects around in the daytime are still there and have not changed; they are just not illuminated by the sun, presently. I think what I am trying to get at is sharing a growing comfort with running at night. It is not as strange as I once thought. Every time I pass over a seam in the concrete where I tripped, I remember. I enjoy the cool air and the sense of having the entire city to myself. Tonight's run started off smooth until Gibbon's Park, when I began breathing a bit heavier. I slowed down. The rest of the run went slower but smoother. Someone, smarter than the rest, has posted laminated Lost Dog posters all around the area. The dog was a border collie and looked really cute; I hope they get it back. I wore leggings, racing shorts, a long-sleeved technical shirt, and cotton gloves, which was just about right for the temperature. It was fun to open up a bit at the beginning and run faster. My left lower back has felt a bit sore this week, so I am forcing myself to go a bit slower. I think sprinting at the end of my run on Monday aggravated it, a bit.

Goal Time: n/a

Distance (running): ~6.48 km (~4.03 miles); http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/29406640

Weight (after run): 77.8 kg (171.5 lbs), ?% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Left lower back a little sore
Foods eaten today: Oskri coconut bar with mango, oatmeal + raisins + banana, walnuts, almonds, low sodium V-8, Ito En matcha green tea with lemon juice x 2, Jazz apple, apple sauce, Trader Joe's Spicy Ranchero Egg White Salad on Jewish Rye bread, Tempt Mint Chip Ice Cream, orange juice, hard-boiled egg x 2, grilled cheese, Pacific Natural Foods organic roasted red pepper and tomato soup, Hav'A Corn chips with Trader Joe's Double Roasted Salsa, protein powder drink