Seven point four miles--smoke that!

Just came back from another run, setting a new distance record for myself at 7.4 miles, with the first two being run in 18:30, just a minute slower than the US Army standard for people my age. And of course had I only been running two miles, I'd have stepped up the pace and easily beat that. But I was planning on running farther, and having learned to pace myself after starting out too fast and burning out early during my last 5K, I kept the pace slower and steady. For this run, my goal was distance, not time.

Today I ran along the Potomac River and C&O Canal on the Maryland side, from the Shepherdstown Bridge down to the Antietam Creek Aquaduct--an interesting overpass of sorts where the canal once flowed over Antietam Creek. Here I stopped for a minute or two just to take in the scenery and reflect about how this small creek once ran red with the blood and bodies of some of the men killed and wounded in the Civil War's bloodiest battle almost 146 years ago to the day, back on September 17, 1862. On this idyllic afternoon, it was hard to envision over 17,000 men being wounded and almost 4,000 more men dying just a few miles up this picturesque little stream.

Starting up again, I ran back to the starting point, and then, because it was still under the 7 miles that I wanted, I added another .6 miles and completed the run with a total time of 1 hour, 24 minutes. (Not bad for one leg, eh?)

Now I'm back at the Lair with Lagniappe, getting ready for a nice hot shower and a nap in my hammock. And I'm seeing a nice, tender steak grilled to perfection on the charcoal grill for dinner tonight.

Some days, life is just nice.