Wednesday, March 30th              A stunningly beautiful spring day!

Covered 5.65 miles on the beach today in 80 minutes.  Lots of walking and slow running.  Did all the proper pre and post procedures.

AM heart rate was 57 BPM  -seems to be somewhat elevated.   I am not altogether confident of my counting procedure.   Counting for 60 seconds  is rather new to me .  For years  I used the 10-second count  with the multiple of 6 to get the full minute heart rate.    Focusing and Counting  for 60 seconds may be too much stress on this 73 year old brain.       I do not feel overtired.

Weight today  152 pounds after workout

I-Mad  Index  today 3.0    A little better

The goal today was to run relaxed, comfortable and enjoy the beach for the last time.   The beach was flat and solid and sunny with a Northeast wind very steady at about 15 mph.   I was determined to etch the scene on my brain and bank the sunshine  in my core.  I made no attempt at speed or pickups or surges.

However, as I was running along very comfortably and mentally blogging about my college running experiences once again,  I inadvertently picked up the pace until in the last mile I was running below 9 minutes.  This is a practice I can not recommend enough to anyone who might have it in mind to start running or walking or bike-riding for that matter to help traverse the minutes and miles that are needed to make those efforts worthwhile.   It does not have to be about your training.  Write the first chapters of that book you have always wanted to complete.   It can be on any subject in which you are an expert or thoroughly interested.   It could be fishing , parenting , woodworking , coaching,  teaching , or just a novel about your life or any other subject.   I seem to have stumbled upon a way to stay healthy and active while at the same time writing about the things that have always fascinated me and defined many segments of my life.   I am currently reading Garrison Keillor’s first book about Lake Wobegon.   I have always been captivated  by his style of storytelling.   As I read his prose I can picture him weaving those tales about those extraordinary , ordinary people of Lake Wobegon in his mind as he walked or jogged or rode his bike.    Just my image, no basis in  fact.

So, today we pack the car and return into Old Town for a final dinner before we head North in the morning.

Next next two days will be on the road blogging.

PS-  Ran with loose laces again today with minimal Achilles discomfort.