SRRC first run! -- Sun. January 13

First foray out with the nascent Swift River Running Club, though I almost missed it and Mark didn't quite make it (arrived just after we'd set off, and decided after a brief pursuit to give it a miss--we'll get it right next week, I hope). Arrived just after 10 a.m., and there were 7-8 people, maybe -- the Anytime Fitness owners (Brian and Kathy, I think) plus a few prospectives like me. One chap (Andy) had a dog with him; he turned out to be the one looking to do the nine miler. I said I'd go along with him, and I suggested 7:30 as a pace; I'm sure he was good for much more (aged 25, averages 50-70 miles p/w, and has done 3 marathons, fastest being a shade over 3 hrs). We ended up doing a sort of reverse Enfield, but starting and ending at the police station. The first few miles were faster, as we headed out throught BHS and up into town, then down Jabish and up Enfield. Hard pull, up that hill at that pace after the week I'd had, but a good challenge; then down Allen was faster and I suggested we take to the trails, so we did from Bay up to GeoHannum (man, I was dead on the steep bit before the baseball field! and he was bouncy and fresh, despite having done the same stretch once already as a 6 mile pre run warmup. . . ) and more trail to Jackson, then roads back to the start. Ran in shorts (w/ hat and gloves) and in road shoes, so the trails were a trial, but a good change of rhythm. We highfived at the end, exactly on the predicted pace:

Time: 1:04:51
Distance: 8.68 miles
Speed: 8 mph

Comment: well worth the effort, and I'll hope to do the same next week (and get Mark and Ivan, if both there, home for tea after). Left me thinking about doing a 26.2 myself though . . .