We were snookered today by a "friend" (and notice I put that word in quotes) who swore he was doing a 5-mile "easy" run (again..note the quotes).

I ran 10 miles yesterday and, frankly, struggled with it. Not sure why....but those days happen. You will have days that your legs feel like lead and you're just not that into it. That's OK. It happens. It passes. It probably means you need an extra rest day.

So, when I got a message from a friend yesterday night asking if I was interested in a 5-mile easy run with some friends...I thought...well...OK...easy is good. Running with friends is good and...since school is starting soon...my days of carefree running are probably coming to an end (since I'll have to be home early to get two kids ready for school)...so I should go.

Only the "easy" loop we were going to do involves a bridge that is under construction. We figured we'd be able to run across it and we did...until we got to a four-foot wide chasm that none of us (particularly the dog) were too crazy about leaping over in the dark at 5:30 a.m.

Hmmm....we were all sort of baffled until Dr. D. said...well, how about we just go this road to here and then to so-and-so road. "That will be just over 5 miles," he said.

"Sure...sounds good," we said.

The only one who hesitated was the guy who knew that route and said, "Uh....you've never run this route before, have you?"

"Just over 5 miles" was really 6.25 miles over hill after hill after @#$% hill.

I know what I'm getting Dr. D. for Christmas...we're all going to chip in & buy the guy a GPS -- preferably one with elevation charts.

P.S. If it sounds like I'm whining & complaining, it's only half-hearted. I bitch in jest...I secretly enjoyed it. It's kind fun to work really hard sometimes...and even more fun when you do it with friends. What doesn't kill you will, indeed, make you stronger.