Payoff from yesterday's ad hoc workout

Today's run (street): 2.6 miles

I'm the early morning darkness it's sometimes difficult to tell if its raining until you actually step outside. I've misjudged the weather more than once and been forced back upstairs onto the treadmill or the elliptical.
I feared that I might encounter a light rain when I stepped out this morning, but the skies were clear and the humidity was moderate.

The light was interesting at 4:00 AM, brighter than I'd have expected, with a light breeze moving the trees around. I set off and immediately felt the difference in humidity compared to Sunday, when I'd last run outdoors. It was much cooler today, and the slight winds were making it feel even more comfortable.

My short, but tough, incline workout on Tuesday seemed to help my stride today. I had no trouble getting up to speed and I moved along with less effort than I usually require for the pace that I maintained. I added a little more distance to my route as I was enjoying the experience of a good run that can feel almost like floating. Today's run was a good reminder that mixing up your training focus with speed and hill work can lead to better results on the road.