Dena took advantage of perfect fall weather to set another personal best, covering 3 full miles of non-stop jogging.
The cloudless, windless 56 degree afternoon offered little resistance to Joe and Dena as they covered the 3-mile path for the 21st time, in training for the December 1 Jingle Bell Run in Peoria.
By the original training schedule, today's trip would have included 28 minutes of running at a 13-minute mile pace, which would have caused the entire 3-mile route to be finished in 41 minutes.
The schedule was slowed by a calf muscle pull earlier in the week, which caused the duo to substitute endurance running for speed running. That they succeeded in jogging the entire length was prize enough. Unexpected was the 11:40 pace, leading to a surprising finish time of 35 minutes.
Afterward, the calf felt "tight," according to the Morton-renowned graphic designer. "If I don't do anything the rest of the day, it'll probably stiffen up."
Several neighbors were waiting at the finish line/driveway as the slightly-panting couple arrived. The group looked up briefly from fawning over unit #31's new baby chihuahua to cast a few half-attentive waves.
"They should give him an anti-chihuahua name, like 'Butch'," Dena noted.
Although her legs felt "tired," she was clearly pleased to be making progress on behalf of Team Troy. "I'll be logging five miles daily by race day," she didn't add.
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