Last year when it came time for the autumn equinox, someone forgot to wake up fall or summer was just having to much fun to leave. You could hardly blame it - I met L, spent a week in Costa Rica and broke the seal on the half marathon (and melted in the 90-plus degree heat in Celina).

This year, fall wasted no time. The 2018 autumn equinox landed on Saturday, Sept. 22. The three days before we had high temperatures of 88, 88 and 90. On this day, we had a high of 70 (the jury is still out on whether we actually hit 70) with the preceding days struggling to equal that mark.

The football weekend felt like you would expect a football weekend to be like. It was just weird at how much the weather transitioned in a 12 hour period. A monsoon of rain, wind, thunder and lightning hit us at rush hour on Friday and similar to the aliens in the War of the Worlds film, fall forced itself upon us by Saturday afternoon.

No one is complaining, its just interesting how summer was shoved out the door and told not to come back for eight months...in a nice way, of course (just ignore the image of the footprint on it's backside). It has been lovely to run in the recently arrived mild weather. I for one enjoy running in the cooler weather and the rain. It reminds of those bygone days of high school and collegiate cross country.

Having just completed her first race since joining the running crowd, L has been all-systems-go regarding getting faster, adding miles and exploring event possibilities. Being an outdoorsy person, animal lover and avid bird watcher, she was excited to throw our hats into the ring regarding the Red Tail Run 5K and Walk for Wildlife at the Ohio Wildlife Center in nearby Powell.

This race in the Shawnee Hills area of NW Columbus supports the nearly 5,000 animals from 145 different species admitted to Ohio Wildlife Center’s free hospital each year. The goal is to treat these animals and get them back to the wild. All race proceeds, "are directed back to Ohio Wildlife Centers non-profit mission of fostering awareness and appreciation of Ohio’s native wildlife through rehabilitation, education and wildlife health studies."

As you can see, this race - and those it would benefit - are right up her alley. And it would be a change of pace for us. Instead of L following me and joining in on my suggested quests, we would reverse rolls. This did land on a weekend I was scheduled to work, but with it having a 9am start and my Sunday work day not beginning till 12:45. We could squeeze it in, especially since it would be just 12 miles (20 minutes) from our house.

Another added fun benefit would come after the race. According to race details, "Once finished, racers can witness the release of a recovered wildlife hospital patient back to the wild and visit with resident hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes and other education ambassadors at our Powell center." It would be nice spending a fall morning running a quick 5k.

The Tuesday before, I noticed some soreness around my right heel but it dissipated as the day went on. Then Wednesday morning the same pain returned but was more pronounced. Annoyed, I look into it and discovered Plantar Fasciitis had developed. This was obvious when the "morning hobble" set in, or your foot trying to heal itself in a contracted position overnight. Taking that first step out of bed causes sudden strain on the bottom of your foot, resulting in pain in your heel or arch and I felt it to the full extent.

I ran about six miles the prior afternoon without issue, but the pain recurs after long spells of sitting. Of course, it fades during a run or once you are consistently moving again - but it is quite frustrating.

The condition is caused by drastic or sudden increases in mileage, poor foot structure, and/or inappropriate running shoes which can overload the plantar fascia (the connective tissue that runs from your heel to the base of your toes), resulting in heel pain. Since the first three on that list I can safely rule out, I'm guessing it has to do with my shoes. I bought them at the end of May, just before the New Moon Half & Quarter Marathon, Crescent Moon 5K, and they are starting to show some wear. Doing the math, I have put about 500 miles on them (give or take 5 miles or so) - which is a standard for when to put shoes to rest.

This does not mean you have to stop running, you just have to treat it with things like stretching, icing, arch support, foot taping, wearing a night splint and taking anti-inflammatories. If treated right, it shouldn't persist. At the moment its just annoying, like the calf strain I developed about this time last year. I purchased an arch support brace and have been wearing it since and it has helped immensely. And icing the area after each run has put a stop to the awful morning hobble.

I never had these issues back in the day, but then gain I wasn't in my 40's then either. Come on body, try to keep up with the mind!

Our route would begin at Ohio Wildlife Center's service driveway, and then right onto Cook Road, and then the next 3 available left-hand turns onto Merchant Road, Concord Road, and back to Cook Road and finishing at 6131 Cook Road, in the same location as the start line.

It was a partly cloudy, bright, cool Autumn morning. The kind where you don long sleeves but just before it feels too warm, the cool air reminds you why you avoided the t-shirt and shorts. I wore tights in order to avoid cramping and to protect some still-recovering lower half muscle tissue.

I position myself in front and L works her way into the middle of the pack of the corral. Warming up, I notice at least one dude who looked like he would wipe the floor with me which would be a good thing. Having someone in front would be a great way to work on half marathon pacing. Sure enough, as we take off he darts in front and I follow just enough to keep myself in line.

The beautiful sunrise and cool fall breeze along the country roads made it easy to get comfortable. As the gazelle in front drifts further away, I push my stride to work on maintaining a relatively fast pace. It was a race, but great real time practice for future endeavors. The rolling hills were a fun roller coaster ride and the openness of the topography allowed me to keep the dude in front within sight.

He distanced himself quite a bit and I had no intentions of trying to close the gap, but it did feel great to stretch the legs and keep them rolling for the 3 1/4 miles (it was a 5k race, but my Garmin Watch claimed it was just a bit longer). Turning the final corner and back into the Ohio Wildlife Center, I cross the finish and stop my watch at 19:54 with a chip time of 19:51. This is about the time I figured out as to why my time didn't seem to correlate with how I thought I was running, as the miles covered portion on my watch displayed 3.25. The second place finish with splits of 5:56, 6:15 and 6:09 were more than satisfying.

Downing some water, I garnered my finisher's medal and hung out at the finish line - high-fiving others as they come in and waiting for L. Making my way back up to the road, I glance down and see L on the horizon, she's looking pretty smooth and I cheer her on as she, too, reaches the end. Meeting up with her, she looks perplexed. Fighting through winded breathing, "That wasn't a 5k, it was further...wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it was 3 and a quarter."

"I was gonna say," she states, "I didn't think my watch was that off far off. Still, that's 30 seconds faster than my time at the Amish Country 5k!"

Actually, it was 34 seconds faster despite being .15 of a mile further and she placed 20th overall - not too shabby. We scarfed down coffee, donuts and bagels while browsing some of the rescued birds and raptures who are permanent residents at the center.

The highlight was watching a Red-Tailed Hawk be released back into the wild after completing rehabilitation. The carrier it was in was opened, allowing for it to take off on it's own but instead just sat there for about five minutes. When officials attempted to coax it on, the rapture turned toward them and spread it's giant wings as if to say, "Chill out man! I'm taking my time, back off humans!" Maybe it needed to time to reflect. Moments later it spread it's wings again, but this time it lifted off the ground and soared into some trees before disappearing in the morning horizon. It was quite a sight to see.

We hopped back in the car and drove the 20 minutes or so home where I then made myself look appropriate and headed off to work. As for L, she dug into some homework before heading off to play softball with our neighbor's city rec team.

It is now officially October - the time of year for Halloween, trick-or-treat, fall foliage and college football conference games, not to mention the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is just three weeks away. The leaves are changing and pumpkin spice everything is coming out of the woodwork...whether you like it or not, it's only right....

Wallows - It's Only Right

New ways to spend all my time
Some's gone and some doesn't feel right
I need a notice to stay and I don't think I'm gonna find it

You say you want, but never will
Just take it back and tell me no
It's easier to be alone, than to be lied to

Why'd you waste all the time
Back and forth in my mind
Clean it out, tell me now
Was it worth all the time?
You're not here, with me dear
Can we go, through the years?
Take you there, every night
Say that it's only right

White noise that plays in my head
Tried to recall the words you said
Can you sink into my dreams?
And then I'll never wanna wake up

I hear you talk, when you're not there
It comes at me from everywhere
Can you lose the rest of me
And take my mind away?

Why'd you waste all the time
Back and forth in my mind
Clean it out, tell me now
Was it worth all the time?
You're not here, with me dear
Can we go, through the years?
Take you there, every night
Say that it's only right

I'm wide awake, it feels like all the time
I need to know if it'll be alright
I'm waiting on another day to fall
When you're awake to hear my call
'Cause it's...
I'm wide awake, it feels like all the time
(Open, my door is open)
I need to know if it'll be alright
(Please let me know when)
I'm waiting on another day to fall
(You're coming home)
When you're awake to hear my call

Why'd you waste all the time
Back and forth in my mind
Clean it out, tell me now
Was it worth all the time?
You're not here, with me dear
Can we go, through the years?
Take you there, every night

Say that it's only right