Hips don't lie

I listened to the rain spitter spatter as I nursed Miles at 3:30 a.m. Actually, it was more than a spitter and spatter. It was more like a pounding on the windows.

It was the kind of rain that made you glad you were inside - not outside running. But I had promised Denali (and myself) that we would run this morning. Rain or no rain. If I could run through knee-deep water during the HUFF, I could handle a little shower.

I rolled out of bed at 5:35 a.m., a little later than I had planned but still enough time (I hoped) to squeeze in a couple miles before Miles woke up for the day. I got dressed, leashed up Denali and was out the door 15 minutes later. Once outside, we were greeted with quite possibly the most perfect weather. It was a toasty 47 degrees and the sky had stopped. It was a blessing of a December morning.

We started out slow but steady - I wanted to make sure I was tuned in to my body to see how everything felt after running the HUFF. Unlike road races where I usually feel soreness in my calves, hamstrings and/or quads the next day or so, my ankles and hips were what felt the most uncomfortable. I attribute the discomfort to the awkward gait I had to adopt due to the muddy and sloped trails. My ankles felt fine but my right hip felt ... well ... I could feel it. It didn't hurt, and I wouldn't even say that it was uncomfortable. I just knew it was there.

I continued to be mindful as I picked up the pace a bit as we cruised around the neighborhood - you have to run fast to be fast (relatively, of course). I never felt strained nor did I feel as if the "discomfort" became anything greater. In fact, I think the hip started to feel better as if all I needed was a good stretch.

I felt fantastic and rejuvenated as I rounded home just shy of 2.5 miles. I couldn't have asked for a better run, not even at 3:30 as I listened to the rain.

Did you run today? How was it?