A Running Milestone at Mile Square Park

Remember back in October when I first discovered Mile Square Park (MSP)? Of course you don't. It was nothing special, no earth shattering event to make it memorable to you.

Why do I remember that day?
1) My airheadiness for thinking it was one mile around the Mile Square Park. How long have I been around Fountain Valley? But in all those years, I have never really gone to this gem of a park -- until I took up running.
2) October was when I decided to take up running. I think that day was day 2 of my running project.
3) I remember huffing and puffing on those 45 seconds running intervals and wondering if I would ever be able to run a block non-stop, never mind around the park.

Well, I went back to MSP this evening to do my 4 mile run. What a difference 6 months have made. It was a great evening for a run; a little breezy but that just made me feel as though I was running fast with the wind in my face :).

Every time I run in the OC, I feel a little nostalgic and sad about my hometown LB. It would have been perfect if the scene at MSP was in LB.

A lot of people were out and about. All ages. Seniors walking. Mothers and fathers running with the strollers. Families with kids running together. And serious runners passing all of us. Oh, and dogs, quite a few dogs running -- and behaving -- with their running partners. One of these days, I'll have to take Elaine running here.

I ran a little over 4 miles, about 4.2 miles in 46:45, 11:04 pace. I felt great; no pain.

I was able to talk to some of the kids running with their family and dog. The kids and dog were doing one of those run-walk yo-yo. They ran full speed ahead of me then stop when the dog stopped and walked. I would pass them with my slow steady pace. Then later, they would all run full speed and pass me again. Repeat for several times until I finally noticed that the dog was limping on his right rear leg. I told them when I caught up with them. They must have thought I was crazy, breathlessly telling them that their dog is running as though his knee is bothering him. Fortunately, the dog picked that time to start running on 3 legs so they stopped him and waited for their parents. They walked the dog the rest of the way and waved as I continued with my run.

Before long, I made the final turn and completed the run around Mile Square Park. This was not my first 4-miler. I ran the first 4-miler last Monday. But, for some reasons, this 4-miler made a bigger impact on me. Maybe because I feared that last week was a fluke, that no way can I run 4 miles non-stop. Maybe because MSP was where it started and running it today became a milestone, a reflection of how far I've come since October.

What a great way to end the day.
Elaine behaving superbly in Petco. Delicious lunch prepared by my nephew. And a run around Mile Square Park to commemorate my 6th month of running.