5 miles and "Private Security"

I would have made this post when I got home from the run last night, but we're in the process of moving a bunch of rooms aound in the house and the modem and router were disconnected.  They're back up now, so here we go.  I hope you like the way I've decided to do the posts about my weekly long runs.  Since the name of the blog is "Long Runs and Liberty", I thought it would be cool to write a little bit on a liberty-minded thought I had during the week each time I write about my Sunday long run.

Long Runs:

I broke 5 miles for my first time ever last night!  I ran a 5.22 mile route in the neighborhoods around my house (a good mix of hilly and flat, with minimal traffic at the time of night that I usually head out for my run) in 1:13:06, including my warm-up and cool-down walks.  All in all, it was a pretty good run.  My right calf was tight for about the first 2 miles, but that was my fault for not stretching my legs out on Saturday like I should have.  Once it loosened up though, everything felt really good and smooth.  I was wearing my Saucony Tangent 3s, which aren't usually my long run shoes as my Saucony Rides usually have that honor, but I've got the Pinch Gut Puffer 7.5k coming up in less than 2 weeks and wanted to make sure I would be able to handle the distance in such a lightweight shoe.  My knees are a little sore today from the pounding, but nothing too bad, so if that's all the damage I get from that distance on asphalt, the cross-country terrain of the Puffer won't be bad at all.

My splits were:

Mile 1 - 14:52

Mile 2 - 14:40

Mile 3 - 14:15

Mile 4 - 13:54

Mile 5 - 13:22

As far as the rest of this week goes:

Monday - Strength & Stretching (probably Pilates)

Tuesday - 4-miles

Wednesday - 45 minutes of cross on the recumbent

Thursday - 3.5 to 4 miles

Friday - 60 minutes of cross (haven't decided what yet)

Saturday - Rest

Liberty:

My wife and I went shopping for a computer desk at Target as part of the room rearrange yesterday afternoon.  I was open-carrying my pistol as I tend to do more and more now that I've become more comfortable it.  Also, I didn't want to have to iron one of the long-tailed shirts that I typically use for concealment.  You would be amazed at how many people are completely oblivious to the fact that you have a gun strapped to your hip.  I've probably open-carried 5 or 6 times now and not heard a peep from anyone.  Until yesterday, that is.

We found a desk we liked as well as a dress and some shoes for Lu to wear to a wedding we were going to later that evening.  As we were checking out, the cashier looked at me and said "Off-duty Officer?"  I guess I looked the part, buzz haircut, flashlight, and the same model pistol that our local LEOs carry.  I just smiled at her and said "No ma'am, private security," and she just smiled back and continued to ring up our items.  I decided when I first started to open-carry that I would respond to anyone who asked me if I was a LEO with that very answer.  The way I look at it, I take on a huge responsibility whenever I decide to wear my pistol.  I am essentially taking on the role of private security guard for myself and my family, as well as any around me who would otherwise be unable to protect themselves from the threat of death or permanent bodily harm at the hands of another person.  I am grateful to live in a country and state that recognize my God-given right to self-defense and the keeping and bearing of arms.

Run Long, Run Free.