Today’s Run: 8 slow miles

My legs were a little on the sore and tired side this morning after yesterday’s race, so I just took it nice and easy. Some adorable little dog tried to follow me; I had to use my teacher voice to make him go home. He tucked his little tail and scurried away, and then I felt like a jerk. Sorry, tiny dog.

How was everyone’s Fourth? I hope you all had a fun and safe holiday. And I hope you didn’t have to go back to work today!

My Fourth started with a 5k race. As I mentioned here, the last time I did speedwork was before Boston, so I really didn’t know what to expect from this race. I ended up with a 20:21 — not a PR, but satisfactory for no speed training, and good enough for the women’s win and the $75 cash prize.

Cash prizes are my favorite.

The 5k is my least-favorite race distance, so I only do one or two a year — usually local races that fund-raise for a cause that I support (yesterday’s was for my school’s track and cross-country programs). These little races are a lot of fun; almost everyone knows each other, so there’s a lot of camaraderie, and since the field is small, almost everyone wins an age group award. And let’s be honest: winning is fun.

See? Don’t I look like I had fun?

Post-race, we came home to clean up. Then, I spent the afternoon way outside my comfort zone. A group (several groups, I guess) of Coloradoans are trying to get a school-funding initiative on the November ballot. I really want it to pass (I’m a teacher. You should not be surprised by this). But in order for the measure to even get on the ballot, a certain number of Colorado voters have to sign a petition. Which means that normal people have to get them to sign it. The town we teach in has a big Independence Day festivus every year, so J and I thought it would be a good place to collect signatures.

Here’s a list of a few things I don’t like:

1. Talking to strangers

2. Talking (to anyone) about politics

3. Bothering people

4. Spending all day in the hot sun on a dusty field

Yesterday afternoon was made up of all those things. Awesome.  But I got my petition filled, so I feel accomplished. Or something.

In reality, I know it was good for me to get out of my comfort zone a bit. And now maybe I’ll be a little nicer to those clipboard-toting people who approach me with, “Do you have a moment for (fill in cause that I never have a moment for)?”

Lesson learned.

How was your Fourth?

What was the last thing you did outside your comfort zone?