Purple Rain

Okay, so it's not purple, but I felt like titling my blog after a song. It may be colorless, but it's definitely there. ALL DAY rain, very heavy at times. My morning started when the alarm went off at 5:05. I could hear the rain and that voice (you know, THAT voice) whispered for me to change the alarm and skip the speed work today. No way voice! I did that last week. So, I crawled out of bed, took out the trash and headed to the track at Greenville High School. I was somewhat surprised to see only 2 of my group members. Another one pulled up right after I did, but it was just the 4 of us. Even though it had stopped raining at that point, I guess the liquid falling from the sky kept some at home in their beds. I began my warmup and around the first lap, the rain started again. Time to do some 800s! Funny that one additional lap can make such a difference when you are doing speed work but DANG it does. First 800 in 4:34 and it started pouring rain. Not bad, considering I had run 4 miles yesterday. 1 lap of recovery. Second 800 in 4:40, still good and still raining really, really hard. I thanked God for this blessing of sending the rain we so desperately need and for allowing me the health and ability to be out running in it. Third 800 was 4:43. The intervals served their purpose - I honestly did not feel like I could do another one. My knees and ankles both felt readyy good afterward. Maybe my body is getting used to the impact again. The cankle is going down and the knee is not as stiff. I was soaking wet, my shoes were heavy, my feet sloshy and all I could do is laugh. It was much like being a kid playing out in the rain. All that was missing was a big mud puddle to jump into.