The Car of Slow

This morning we ran the dreaded Mt Coot-tha loop for hills. The scary thing about this is that it is a loop. No turning back! No pausing for rest...the only way is forward, and that clock is ticking!
To add motivation to the fire, our coach drives around in his car and has "check point" stops to check on us. This is also The Car of Slow, as in, he will offer to shuttle slow runners to a more advanced point. Yikes! I won't call it the Vehicle of Shame, because there is nothing shameful about being slow...take it from me!
The first 3 or 4k was all uphill before we finally reached the top. And then our coach told us we needed to pick it up if we wanted to finish the loop on time and avoid getting a lift along the route. So, there we were, huffing and puffing up the hill with thoughts of the Car of Slow looming in our minds. (Or maybe just my mind). 
I picked up the pace until I was burning as fast as I could...and then another runner asked if I could hold back to run with her. It's early, dark, and isolated on the mountain. So we ran together, because that's what friends do.
And as we crested the other side of the hill...

We ran a bit slower to enjoy the view before heading down into the cold, misty trail. The temperature change was incredible! It is moments like that which make you glad to be alive, glad to be running. Glad to be with a friend.


Total distance: 9.30km
Total time: 1.01.08min
Avg pace: 6.34min/km