Milestones on the Road and Scale

Saturday morning brought a big milestone: my first double-digit continuous run (10.01 miles) in almost three years, since the Indy Half Marathon back in November 2022. Even better — it felt fantastic.

I headed out planning to keep things steady and relaxed. The first mile clicked off at 8:24, then I settled into a rhythm: 8:11, 8:11, 8:11, 8:12. By the halfway point, I felt strong, so I began inching the pace down. Mile 6 came in at 8:01, then 7:56, 7:45, and 7:37. My effort barely changed even as the splits got faster — I caught a runner’s high and felt like I was just gliding.

In the final stretch, I finally pushed. My heart rate crept into the 160s, the burn kicked in, and I finished with a hard sprint, closing the last mile in 7:15.
Final stats: 10.01 miles in 1:19:51 (7:58 pace).

Afterward, I was surprised by how good I still felt. Not tired, not drained — in fact, the longer I went, the better I felt. It’s been a long time since I’ve had that sensation, and it’s exciting to see it coming back.

I took Sunday off, more for smart recovery than necessity. Still managed some pickleball and a walk, and my legs felt fresh — even peppy. Today, Garmin suggested more rest, but I kept things light with 5.31 easy miles at 8:44 pace (HR 137). Once again, my performance condition actually improved as the run went on.

Another milestone: the scale dipped under 180 for the first time since August 2022 (179.8). I don’t expect to average under 180 for a couple more weeks, but it’s a good sign. Since April, I’ve been losing about two pounds a month, almost entirely from exercise. My goal is to be around 175 by February and eventually into the 160s — the high 160s seem sustainable for me. Back in 2021 I dipped into the low 160s for a few months, set a 5K PR, then drifted back up despite marathon training. Diet probably played a role — proof of how tough weight maintenance can be. I’ve seen 17x; the next goal is seeing 16x, likely sometime next year.

Right now, though, I’m in a great groove: lose some weight → running feels easier → I run more → I lose more → I feel healthier → I eat healthier. The cycle keeps feeding itself. I just need to keep riding the wave.