Decided I would try some "unfamiliar gorund" and took off from home going the opposite direction I usually run. My normal "outdoors, at home" run winds through the subdivision up to the library and back - about a mile one way. For tonight's route I went down one of the main roads in the area. My intent was to go down to the first stoplight and back - 1.37 miles each way according to the 'net - over terrain much more "hilly" (although nothing drastic) than my regular route. At least I think it's more hilly . Heh. Looking straight south down the road you can see the rises and dips from my house all the way down to the stoplight.

Now, to put things in perspective as I posted earlier (5-6 weeks ago...)...I've "tried" to get into running for the past ~ 3 summers. Each year in the past I would get ~ 1/4 mile and have a severely cramping lower leg and get discouraged and quit. This year I've not run into that problem, although I do still get the "heavy legs" before working through it and hitting "second wind" - normally the first .5 is easy, the next .75 gets progressively harder until I'm just about to quit...then it starts to fade and I'm all good. (the cramping is on the lateral side of the shins - not medial a la shin splints...I still think I have borderline compartment syndrome issues but as long as it's working for me now finally...I'm not complaining much)

Tonight it was just smooth sailing all the way through. Very Zen. No thought of quitting, no pain, no "thank god only another block to go"...just...peace. Wasn't even wearing my HRM that I often use to pace myself.

Got back from my ~ 2.75mi trip and continued on for another .75 as I was running ahead of "time". I was going to push it farther (about another .75-1 beyond what I did) but prudence won out.

My best run yet.