1 mile warm up run followed by a brisk 5K (26:40) and then a cool down mile. The group was a little thinly populated thanks to all the staying up last night due to Bengali Puja going on. If it looks like there were more people who showed up for coffee than for running, it is because they did!!

To test out what is happening after the sky high heart rate yesterday, I tried something different today. Put in a warm up mile first. And then put in a faster than normal for me 5K run. After that, another one mile to cool down. The 5K was in 26 mins 40 seconds (at my normal pace, it would take closer to 30 minutes). It was nice and cool 63 degrees.

The heart rate readings today was closer to what I would expect. Highest was 183. It is still higher than what I would think (170 is what I was thinking it would be). But I was also monitoring my lungs. At no point did I feel I was struggling to take in enough oxygen. I will have to monitor a few more days to see if the heart rate is unreasonably high.

Can’t remember ever pushing my heart rate to 210. Usually by the time I reach 170, I feel compelled to slow down. The max I remember from the past was 190. Not sure whether this is a measurement issue (Apple Watch) or the heart was really pushed that hard.

Ran into Molly and Bill in the trail. Pretty impressed with Molly’s memory. She said that we three had run together three years back. Came back home and checked my website. It was exactly three years and a few days back.

With the only Bengali friend in my local circle who has run a marathon – Sanjib.

Today was a later start and the heat took its toll. Took an hour and 2 minutes to finish the distance.

… when you have to weave thru more Indians in the Fowler Park trail than in a Kolkata street when they give away free rosogollas (sweets). I could not even get a parking spot in the normal parking area.

It was a great sub-hour 10K run though. Atlanta fall weather is great for running.

Also ran into Lia I the trail…

It felt good to start early for the Saturday run. The sky was completely covered in clouds, the temperatures were low and there was a light breeze in the air.

Picked up my pace to sub-10 to finish a 10K under an hour. Was feeling really good about my pace till a couple with a dog raced past me. I have obviously seen a lot of fast runners. But what deflated me was the dog looking back as it passed me from my left and giving that “You call that running?” look with a smirk as big as a grin…

Ran into the good old Chalupa group towards the end.