Mid_december Run

It started out cold today but warmed into the fifties. Snow is in the forecast for tomorrow night, or at least th epossibility of it. Today's 6-miler went well and I still feel good. I keep thinking I'm dressed for warmer weather and feel cold when I start out but find I'm just right during the run and after. This was another run without the Garmin . It felt like I was running at a decent pace, even up the hills,. I think I'll continue this for a few more runs during the week, at least as long as I don't have to resort to the treadmill.

It Was a Cold and Windy Day

It wasn't really too cold, but it was kind of windy. Today marked another day back on the road from the race and I went 7 miles. I ran my usual 6-mile route and tacked on a bit more uphill toward 291 and a block into a couple of neighborhoods to add another 5,280 feet. Apparently I ran it in a pretty good pace since my Garmin (yes, I took it this time so I'd know when I got to 7 miles) had me at a 9:07 pace. That's not normally what I would shoot for on a long run but that's how it turned out today and it felt comfortable, so I'm okay with that.

As to my right foot, other than earlier this week when it hurt it's been improving every day. I washed the plantar sock, as I call it, so that I don't stink up a room when I come in. I used the k-tape for the run and that seem sufficient. Whereas before I felt a constant pain, even when sitting and doing nothing, now notice only on an occasion where I tweak it when walking. It felt just fine during the run and I'm grateful for that. My hope is that in a couple of weeks I won't even notice a problem.

Still No GPS

I've been running without the Garmin and it's been great. Not that I'll do it all the time, but for these runs to recover from the race I think it's been crucial to a good run. I just go out and run what's comfortable. Tuesday I ran fairly quick, or at least what felt like it, while tonight I backed off a bit. Plus we had a Christmas lunch today at the buffet and I knew it was to not jar the fatty deposits in my arteries too much. I even considered phoning it in today and resting but the temperature was about 50 degrees when I got home. I know colder temps are coming and I refuse to miss a day of nice running weather when it's in my control to do so. I went the full 6 miles as planned and felt - and feel - great. I don't think I burned enough calories to make up for the buffet but I made a good-sized dent in the total.

Feeling Prime

I ran 5 miles today and could have gone 6, but I decided there was no need for the extra mile at this point. Last week I ran three times and did 4-5-6 and this week I can go 5-6-7. Seems like a logical progression. Then next week I'll break the pattern and do 6-6-8 to get back to 20 miles per week. That seems like a good maintenance level for the winter until I decide which race to run in the spring. Once I figure that out I can create a training plan to get me there.

Close to Winter

The official first day of winter is December 22nd, and today was a step in that direction. It's been warm lately but is now on the downward slope. When I ran today the temperature was in the thirties, but it felt much colder relatively speaking compared to what we've experienced so far. I ran 6 miles, making a total of 15 miles for the first week back.

The great new development is the tape I ordered. It came in Friday and I wore it last night and all day today, including while running. It certainly seems to be making a difference quickly. It's incredibly lightweight. I plan on wearing it for the next several days and by Tuesday's run we'll see what kind of progress has been made.

Adding a Mile

The cold weather she's a comin'. Today was cloudy and less nice than Tuesday, but still not horrible. I added a mile and went 5 today, feeling good all the way. The couple of weeks off seems to have recharged me, which is good, especially since I didn't sleep well last night. I kept today's pace modest. This morning on the way to work I had the wonderful thought, "Today I get to run!" It made me feel good, as did the actual running. If only I was that easily amused every day.

New Run

The weather so far this December has been unseasonably warm. After the race I decided to take two weeks off and let my knee and foot heal. The knee feels great, but the foot has not changed. Given that resting doesn't seem to be helping in addition to the nice weather, I decided rest time was over and it was time to run. So I did.

Today I started with no Garmin, shorts, and a long-sleeved technical T and went 4 miles. Let me just say that it felt really good to be back out there again. It looks like I'll get to enjoy one more warm run before the weather turns cold.

As I ran I reflected about the race. During the just under two hours of that run my knee felt fine, my foot didn't hurt, and there was no trace of the abdominal pain I had during the appendix scare earlier this year. It was like everything that I'd been fighting all year disappeared for a great, almost perfect, run. Other than the mild case of plantar fasciitis that's lingered the run today was good. Tonight I ordered a compression sock that I should be able to wear at night as well as with shoes if needed. It should be here next week and I'm hopeful it will provide some relief.

Racing Recap

The Route 66 Half Marathon was the only race I'll run this year. And it was a good one. The weather was about perfect, with a cool temperature but not horribly so. The course had a few minor hills in the first half, but after that was pretty darn flat. All in all everything panned out for a decent race, and my Virtual Running Partner made the most of it.

This was his first time to break two hours in the half, and he did it with a negative split. We tried to take the first five miles at a slower pace, between 9:30-9:45 per mile, and did so for the most part. A few times we sped up a little too fast, mostly on the downhills, but also any time there was a crowd. It was kind of funny because I told him he liked the crowds and then he denied it, but I think by the time the race was over he realized I was right.

The last four miles or so we were at a pace 8:30 or faster. Taking it easier in the first half definitely paid off. His official time was 1:57:42 and mine was 1:57:43. It was a great run and a well-organized race. In the few years since the last time we ran this the field has exploded. It was a good, satisfying run with a nice PR for my buddy. I'm also happy to say I felt exactly zero twinges in my right knee. That's right, zero. I'm happy about that and hope that with a week off or two that the pain in my right foot will go away as well.

Finally a Good Run

Maybe it was because it was only 3 miles long, but today's run was the most encouraging in a while. The knee felt the best it has recently and I was hoping for that when I set out. It twinged, but not as bad as last time, when I was about 9/10 of a mile in. I was aware of it but it didn't get any worse. By the end it was almost a non-issue. It was a small sample size but it gives me hope that Sunday's race will go well. If this was a test before the run then I think I passed.

The Story Continues

I took the day off from running on Monday to give my knee an extra day. Yesterday, Tuesday, I went out right before noon for a 5-miler that was to include three miles of tempo pace. I did okay until I hit the third mile and my knee started giving me problems again. I walked a bit and then started up again, albeit at a slower pace. After a few minutes I walked again up a hill and then finally ran the rest of the way home. I'm not encouraged by this continuing pain with the race coming on in a few days. I'm debating whether or not to run a 3-mile easy run tomorrow. Either way I'm sure I can still do a half-marathon on Sunday - it's just a matter of how pretty (or not) it is.

Concern

Today's 8-mile run was again tougher than I thought it would be. My right knee is still tender and has that feeling that one good tweak will send me writhing to the ground. Today it was around 70 degrees and a lot of people were out running. It was probably the highest number of other runners I've ever seen around here. I passed one lady and shouted out I was going to pass her on the left. She seemed surprised because people generally don't do that around here. I told her I just wanted to warn her and she was okay, but it's funny because etiquette of that type doesn't happen in these parts. I did get chicked early on in my run, and a lady pushing a stroller on the other side of the road was pacing me, but I was still warming up. At least that's what I was telling myself.

Back to the knee. I never stopped and walked because of it, but I was conscious of it for most of the time. I did walk a few times, once on a downhill that I was afraid would be painful on my knee and the other on a long uphill where I was worn out. This is one of those cases where I don't feel like I'm in imminent danger or hurting myself long-term. This week the plan is 6 miles on Monday, 5 on Tuesday, and 3 on Wednesday. I'm going to adapt that to maybe 4 on Monday, 5 on Tuesday, and we'll see if I run on Wednesday or not. Then it's three days of no running until the race on Sunday. I know I can make it for 13.1 miles, but I want it to be as pain-free as possible. I think some time off of it will make that possible.

Favorite

I don't know why this is one of my favorite runs, but it is. Run for 2 miles, run as fast as possible for 800m, recover with a slow run for 15 minutes, and then blast off again for another 800m, and slowly recover the rest of the 6-mile total. I told my Virtual Running Buddy this week that if you don't feel you're going to puke by the end of the second interval then you're not doing it right. I was almost there today. I like this one because really, how often do you get to run as fast as you can? It's almost like being a kid again - it just hurts more when you're done.

I didn't keep too close an eye on my pace during the intervals but I did see once that I got down to 5:46. The Garmin said my fastest pace was 4:47, but that's pretty much wrong. The difference between past runs like this and today is that I'm not in peak shape right now. I'm doing okay, but nothing like the year of four marathons.

I was also thinking how most of the times I remember doing this particular run are on a night like tonight, where the sun is setting early and there's a chill in the air. Guess that's a reflection of doing several late November or early December races. One more long run on Saturday and then the taper really begins to take hold.

Running on Election Day

Voted at lunchtime today so I could run when I got home. Started out when the sun was up and ended when it was down. Such is running after the time change.

Not My Best

Maybe playing paintball this morning and then running 10 miles this afternoon wasn't the best planned day. The running around this morning really wasn't that bad, although I once again found out if I was ever in an actual war you could count on me to be one of the first casualties. Nevertheless, I think the issue was (once again) the change in footwear. I wore my hiking boots, which always seem to cause me problems. It's not that I feel the difference so much when I'm wearing them but that I have issues later. Like on today's run.

It was weird. That sums it up, but let me explain. I had a slow start, running out of the neighborhood at a very slow pace. My knees felt weak, and it was one of those runs where it seems like I just never got into a rhythm. Right about the one mile mark I stopped running for a few seconds and walked, hoping that would jump-start my run. It didn't. By the time I got to the 1.5 mile point I stopped again. It felt like I was limping and I was afraid I was going to hurt myself. I started up, same thing. I turned around and was really in a mode of indecision. At that point I started a downhill portion and that seemed to help. I took a left onto Flintlock and felt good for about thirty seconds, like everything was going to be fine. It wasn't. After a couple hundred yards on an uphill slope I turned around and headed back to 96th Street. As I turned west I found myself settling into that rhythm I'd been looking for. By the time I made it back to the entrance of our subdivision all thoughts of cutting the run short had disappeared. It was still a tough run and I walked a few more times on some uphill portions, but I gutted it out and made the full 10 miles. As I said, it certainly wasn't my best run ever, but maybe in some ways it was because I didn't give up. Time to taper a bit and remember that next time I wear my hiking boots to not try a long run the same day.

Tempo

Today was a nice long tempo run. I normally try to keep my mileage to 6 or under on a weeknight, but today I went 7 miles. I ran a mile warmup followed by 5 miles at MP and a mile cooldown. As opposed to Tuesday's run I felt very good today and the run went great. My finishing time was 1:00:03 for the full 7 miles, so I figure the middle part was in the low eights. Not bad for an old guy. Plus the weather today was great - over 70 degrees when I was on my way home and not much cooler by the time I was dressed and out the door. I know this good weather won't last but I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Long Intervals

Today was a tough one. It was one of those very tiring days at work, meaning I was way less than 100% when I hit the streets. My plan was for a 1-mile warmup followed by four intervals of 1 mile at race pace with a 1-minute slowdown between each. The balance of the 6 miles was filled by a cooldown. The intervals were extremely rugged, but by golly I did all of them and at as close to 8 minutes/mile as I could. The last one was somewhat slower as I didn't push too hard coming up the big hill by the golf course, but for the most part I kept a good pace.

At the end of the run a guy was standing out in front of his house and called out that I was an animal. I stopped and talked with him for a few minutes and he asked how much I ran and how far. He's run a few 5k races and spent a lot of time recently coaching football for his 6-year old. We commiserated about parents trying to live a sports dream through their kids. It's interesting to meet other people with busy lives and somewhat similar but differently shaded cares in life. At the least I guess I've been running around here long enough where people recognize me. Scary.

Four and Out

No, that's not a reference to this year's World Series sweep by the team that beat the Cardinals in the NLCS. It's pointed toward today's run. I ran 1 1/2 with two of the kids and then finished out by myself for a total of 4 miles. I needed a nice, slow easy run today after Saturday's 11-miler. I could feel the soreness in my legs and purposefully kept it at a good pace. I also kept the total miles down since I felt I needed to stretch out more than I needed total miles before tomorrow's speed work. The wind was pretty cold today as well, which was another reason to stay out for a shorter amount of time. I spent a lot of the day on my feet smoking pork and chicken. That means it's time to rest this evening and kick up my feet for a bit.

Long Hilly Run or Hilly Long Run?

This was the longest distance I've run in quite awhile. If I was less lazy I'd go back through my entries and see when was the last time I ran over ten miles. I've modified my training plan somewhat due to life intruding on my running. I was going to run 13 miles today but knew that was too much given the training so far. I ran 11 miles and was pretty worn out by the end. I was definitely tempted a few times to walk but I resisted since this is my longest training run before the race.

As always when I run in the area I can't avoid hills. I amused myself a little with thoughts of whether this was a long hilly run or a hilly long run? I suppose the word order makes somewhat of a difference in how the run is described.

Here I am a few hours after getting back and I feel okay. As I build back up toward marathon distance, hopefully in the early Spring, I'm reminded of how draining some of the longer runs can be and why it's important to build up to those distances. My knees feel good and hopefully I can keep increasing after the race in three weeks.

Intervals

The weather turned nasty today. I keep telling myself that in about three months this temperature in the mid-40s will seem positively balmy. A wind from the north made the last couple of miles interesting, but all in all I felt strong throughout the run. It was weird because I laid on the floor to stretch my back before the run and I could have fallen straight asleep. Those moments of relaxation must have helped since I felt loose and my frame of my mind was easygoing. I ran 6 miles total of Yasso 800sx5. The first three intervals I kept at about an 8:30 pace, but the last two I revved the engine and came in under 8:00. The last one was uphill by the golf course against the wind. I'm afraid some of it was over my target due to the stiff north breeze. I actually thought it would be colder than it was, especially since the gap between a 73 degree temperature this morning relative to the drop from the cold front would be big. Not too bad in the end, though, and it looks like autumn is here to stay. It's amazing what a drop in degrees can do to help my speedwork.

Recap

I forgot to post about my Sunday run, which means I have two days' worth of running to recap. This past weekend was packed to the gills with activities and finding time to run was next to impossible. Finally at 4:30 on Sunday I had a brief window of free time to run. It was a beautiful day, a bit overcast, but really nice. I wanted to run 10 miles but settled for 8 so I could get home in time for a ball game that was over by the second inning. I should have gone the extra two miles. I felt good and easily could have run the added distance. I'm modifying my plan and it's doubtful I'll run a full 13 or 14 miles before the race.

Today was also nice, although a bit gusty. I felt really tired today and didn't much feel like exercising. That's usually a signal that I should. I warmed up a mile, ran 4 miles at "marathon pace", and finished with a minute of walking and the rest of the 6 miles at cooldown pace. Marathon pace today meant about an 8:30 or so, or something in the general vicinity of that. That was pretty good, especially on the segments uphill and against the wind. True to form I actually feel better after the run than before. Exercise pays off once again.

Speed, In a Relative Way

Today's plan called for a 6-mile run with a 1-mile warmup, 4 miles at race pace (8 minute miles), and 1-mile cooldown. I made it 3 miles at a faster pace, which was neither the recommended speed or the recommended distance. I cut yesterday's run short in hopes that I could avoid dead legs or fatigue today. Fail. I had that feeling at the start, hoping it would go away after I warmed up, but it didn't. I tried to stay at a comfortably fast pace but determined three miles of that was enough. I could tell my heart rate was up at that point and actually walked for a couple of minutes.

My left knee is barking at me again, no doubt due to the change in shoes. Hopefully that goes by the wayside as time goes by, or else I should rotate in my old shoes for a few weeks.

Monday Running

Today was the day after a weekend of eating and such. The Wife and I went to a bed and breakfast as well as to a festival for two days. That means today was a recovery day. My run was 5 miles instead of the standard six, but it was just enough. This week I can get back into the speedwork on Tuesday and Thursday. What, it's like a month or so until the half marathon? No problem.

Friday Long Run

This week has been kind of odd, and will continue to be so over the weekend. I skipped running yesterday because of a ball game I wanted to watch. It ended badly. Anyway, since we have plans tomorrow I wanted to avoid getting up early to run and went for it this afternoon. I ran 9 miles, lots of hills, and it all felt good. The sky was overcast and the temperature in the mid-50s, very nice for running. A strong breeze was coming out of - well, everywhere. It was one of those days where it seemed like unless I was running with the wind directly behind me it was blowing against me. North, east, and south - unless I was running southwest it was an effort. I was in a pretty good zone, though, and it didn't bother me too much. I had a big plate of spaghetti at lunch and that affected me more than the wind. Carb loading four hours before a run? Not a good idea.

My mileage for the week was only 14 total, about half of what I'd planned. Next week I plan on taking it as it comes and not pushing too hard with the big increase in mileage and running four days instead of two.

Recovery Run

Yesterday I was supposed to run. But I was suffering, probably in some part because of my overeagerness on Saturday afternoon. I think that weakened my immune system, which already wasn't in top shape. After the race I went to dinner and then a concert. It was after 9:30 by the time we got home. On Sunday morning it was church and then company afterward all afternoon and evening. I was worn out and no chance to rest. All day Monday I suffered and decided there was no way I could run with the condition I was in. Last night I even took a generic Benadryl. I never do that because of the way it affects me, but I decided it couldn't be any worse than what I was already feeling.

Today was better due to a good night's sleep. I looked at the schedule and decided a marathon-pace run was out of the question. I strained a muscle in my back in the last couple of days, somehow, and that in addition to my stuffy sinuses and general feeling of malaise kept me in check. I ran 5 easy miles, although at the start I almost stopped. It was good to get out and stretch. I cut the run a mile short but that turned out to be a good thing. As I walked up the street a guy pulled up in front of the house. He was there to buy something I'd listed on craigslist and if I'd gone that extra mile I totally would have missed him. Moral of the story: sometimes going the extra mile doesn't pay off.

6 + 3.1

Today was a split day. I knew I'd be running a 5k in the afternoon but also knew I needed to run more than 3.1 miles as part of my training. So I ran 6 miles this morning and it seemed to go pretty well. My pace ended up about 9:20/mile, mainly because it was cool - borderline cold - and breezy and I wanted to be done as quickly as possible. I felt good afterward.

There was quite a crowd at the race, which wasn't bad for the first time our church has done this. I had two kids who were supposed to run with me but they ditched me for their friends. I started out at a comfortable pace while a few guys took off from the pack. I passed a few people and decided hey, let's crank it up even though I wasn't concerned about winning. Which wasn't going to happen anyway with their taking a good lead. We ran two laps of the same course and when we approached a turnaround on the first lap I could see the leader wasn't that far ahead of me, maybe 45 seconds or so. Any thoughts of trying to pass him were quickly gone since I didn't want to exert THAT much energy. I put the children's pastor in my sights and passed him right after that same turnaround on the second lap. I finished in 25:06, which was just stupid since I'm so early in my training plan. If I was smart I should have run it just for fun, but I'm not that smart. I don't feel bad or injured tonight, just tired. Hopefully a good nine hours of sleep or will help me feel better. Plus the allergies don't help, but that's just part of life. Oh well, I had fun anyway and promise to not do that again. At least before the half in November.

Stupid Work

I was looking forward to more speedwork this afternoon. The weather was cool, hovering just above 50 degrees, and therefore perfect for ratcheting it up. In fact, it was almost cold, relatively speaking. When I walked down the street for my warmup I felt chilled. Before heading out I had to go down to the storage room to find my long-sleeved Ts.

Anyway, I did a 2-mile warmup and then started Yasso 800s. I had just finished my second and was about halfway through the corresponding cool-down when my cell phone rang. Now, I don't usually carry my phone when I run but I knew there were issues at work. Against my better judgment I answered it. Big mistake. I had to join a conference that I hoped would last just a couple of minutes, but in my heart I knew it wouldn't. I wandered around by the golf course for about 15 minutes, and even sat down a couple of times. Finally I figured out this wasn't going to end any time soon and I couldn't run with a phone up to my ear. So I started walking home. It was starting to get darker and cooler, and when I was about a half-mile from home I put the phone on speaker and ran the rest of the way. When all was said and done I ran 4 miles and wasted a lot of time. I'm frustrated that I couldn't get in my full run and that because I had to be involved with fixing someone else's mistakes, as usual. Such is the joy of work sometimes.

I did wear my new shoes and felt like I was running on air the first mile. It feels good to be back in cushioned shoes again after trying a pair with less padding, particularly in the forefoot. In fact I was going to title this post "Walking on Air" until the call from work ruined my run. I'm glad I ordered a size 10 of the Asics Gel Cumulus. I had a few reservations about that but either my feet are getting bigger or shoe sizes are getting smaller because the Blur 33 also seemed to be on the small side of a size 10.

Speeding

Today was the first day of speedwork in my half-marathon training plan. I was looking forward to it since I haven't run fast in what seems like years. The plan called for four miles of marathon pace running, but I ended up doing three. I took The Boy out for two miles of slow running to prep him for Saturday's 5k and dropped him off at the house when we'd gone that far. Then I lowered the hammer and took off. My plan classifies 8-minute miles as marathon pace. I started out trying to keep it under 9 minutes/mile and found as distance rolled by under my shoes that I was getting faster. For the most part I was under 8:30, with quite a bit closer to 8:00. I was definitely ready to slow down by the time I reached mile 5 and even walked up a hill a few minutes later. All in all it felt good to stretch it out.

I was thinking about this weekend's race and whether or not I should try to run it fast. My feeling is that it's an invitation to injury since I haven't raced in a while. I proved today I can run three miles at a good clip still, but I'm still leaning toward just running with the kids and enjoying it. Or maybe I'll size up the competition when I get there and decide if I have a chance to win or not. We'll see.

Training Begins

I took the plunge this weekend and registered for the Route 66 Half Marathon. It's November 18th in Tulsa, the same race where I ran a full marathon a few years ago. Accordingly, today was the first day of my new training plan engineered to get me to racing shape by race day. It was an easy 4-miler that sets me on the road to running four days a week again. It was a nice day, just like they have been the past week or so, and the miles went by quickly.

I also ordered a new pair of shoes. I've been wearing the Asics Gel 33 Blur this year. I'm not sure what's caused my right foot to have pain in the heel, which I suspect to be plantar fasciitis. It could be a combination of my running shoes and dress shoes, but I didn't have problems before I bought this pair of running shoes. So today I went ahead and ordered a different type, one I've worn in the past. When I first bought good running shoes I purchased Asics Gel Cumulus. I remember the first time wearing them after using cheapo shoes from Target that I'd bought just to make sure I was going to stick with this running thing. After those less-than-adequate shoes the Asics felt like my feet had died and gone to heaven. I wore that type for several years before moving up to the Nimbus series. The problem is that the Nimbus are just too expensive, hence my trying out the 33 series. When I was shopping on Amazon this morning the Cumulus were the lowest priced that I could find, so I went with that. Hopefully it'll help my foot and still keep my knees from hurting.

A Nice Saturday

It was another great day for running. I didn't get out the door until almost 11 a.m. and went 5.5 miles before swinging back to pick up a couple of kids for another 2.5 (for those of you counting at home, that's a total of 8 miles). I signed us up for a 5k next Saturday so I wanted to make sure they're in good shape. My littlest one went to a sleepover the night prior and she was a wee bit tired. I know the feeling so we had a couple of walking intervals, which was fine. I'm loving this weather and my allergies seem to be leveling out.

Running with Kids

I can only imagine what people thought when they saw four kids and me running this afternoon. What kind of crazy person has that many kids? Maybe. I've been called worse. I "made" them run two miles since the 5k is just over a week away. They all did pretty well except the oldest, who is still having leg problems. Once I dropped them off I ran another four miles to get to my usual total of 6 miles. The day was overcast and the temperature mild - in other words, a perfect day for a run. Autumn brings some nasty allergies along with the good weather, but the past few days I've been okay. We'll see if that lasts into the weekend or not.

Lethargy

I felt just plain tired today when I got home from work. It was one of those I-could-take-a-nap kinds of tired. Even as I started my run I considered how well - or not - it was going to go. That soon passed as a I ran the first couple of miles. When I passed by the neighborhood again at the two-mile mark I had a brief flash of stopping and calling it a day, but I resisted. The temperature was a little warmer today than in the past week, probably in the low 80s, but I ran it all. Just like I was tempted to cut the run short I was also tempted to walk a few times. I just couldn't see any reason to do it, so I kept going. When all was said and done I felt pretty good, much better than when I started. That's not a surprise since what I needed was a little endorphin therapy. Today the treatment worked.

First Day of Fall

As The Boy told me today it certainly feels like the first day of Fall. Yesterday I was really looking forward to this run. I knew it was going to be good weather just like it was yesterday. In fact I thought more than once about running after work yesterday but decided a day of weights would be better. This morning I took off for a 6-miler and ended up with an overall 9:15 per mile pace. It was a lot cooler than I expected with the temperature under 60 degrees. When I was walking to "warm up" I briefly considered going back and getting a long-sleeved shirt but quickly determined I'd be just fine once I started running. Once again I saw several people out but not as many as I thought. A cool breeze was blowing from the north. Maybe that kept some people indoors.

Once I got home I took three of the kids for a run. I was planning on going two miles with them but both girls said they were experiencing pain, one in the knees and the other on the side of the leg above the ankle. We got all of a mile before they had to walk. The Boy and I decided to get in some more running and made it to almost two miles, 1.84 to be exact. For the week that makes my total mileage as 19.84. So close to 20 that I'm going to round up, especially since I more than made up the extra distance in walking. It's two weeks until the 5k at church, so these kids better pick up their game!

That Was a Good Run

Today was another great day for running. I'm feeling like I'm really getting back into stride as far as running goes, and as I've said before the cooler temperatures certainly help. My overall pace today was 9:30/mile, which doesn't seem terribly fast. But consider the fact that for the past five months or so I've been running about a minute slower because of the heat. Or because I've been on and off with my schedule. I ran 6 miles today and if it was a race I would have run a negative split. I felt stronger toward the end when I was running at a pace in the eights. Another telltale sign that I'm feeling better is the hills. In the past I've always attacked hills and stayed strong on the ascent, if not actually running faster. Lately I've slowed down on the uphills and tried to keep it slow to the point of walking them depending on the temperature. Now that the weather is back to a decent range I'm back to enjoying hills again. Watch out! I'm not the fastest person in the world but I certainly feel faster this week.

Back in Stride

Today was so nice. Really nice. Perfect running weather with a temperature about 68 degrees, sunny, and a light breeze. I ran 6 miles and loved every minute of it. My complaint about drivers and crosswalks still stands, though.

Running on Friday?

Today's not my normal day for a run. That would have been yesterday. Thursday was cool and rainy, and to be perfectly honest, I didn't feel like running in it. It was one of those rains that makes you feel like you can get sick from it, even though that's probably not what would happen. Still, it was quite a climate change after another hot day on Tuesday, so I decided to pass. And I'm glad I did.

Today it was 72 degrees outside, sunny, and just plain gorgeous. I got off work an hour early and laced up my running shoes when I got home. I ran 6 miles with no walking, more testament to running in cooler temperatures. I've mentioned before that running four miles in 95 degree weather is probably the same effort as running longer when it's 20 degrees cooler out. I think today's run proves that. My pace was closer to the 9:30 range, and it felt pretty easy. Yep, it's called level of effort. You read it here first. Or maybe not.

I Thought I Was Done

After Saturday's run I had a horrible allergy attack, the worst I've had in a long time. It probably didn't help that I also mowed the lawn, spent several hours painting downstairs, and sitting on my neighbor's driveway hanging out for a couple of hours. Fortunately I rested a bit on Sunday and although the attack was past I still felt drugged for a couple of days. I thought we were done with summer but today proved the weathermen don't know their hole from an ass in the ground. It was right at 90 degrees when I headed out with the littlest daughter. She ran a mile with me and I returned her back to the house before heading out for another 4 miles. It was fun because we talked about competition and nutrition and being in shape. She's a sharp kid. Yes, I'm biased.

Because of the temperature I took my water bottle with me and did the walking thing when I needed to. As I was walking up the hill just after finishing Daughter #1 came driving back from the grocery and tooted her horn at me. I jumped in and got an air conditioned ride the last few hundred yards back to the house. It wasn't my normal cooldown, but it was a nice treat.

The bottom of my right foot has been hurting for several weeks, and I'm hoping it's not plantar fasciitis. I think the pain is due to the lower profile of my running shoes and the inserts I've been wearing in my dress shoes. The past couple of days I've been wearing my dress shoes at work without the inserts but I haven't noticed a difference yet. In fact, today I felt a little bit of pain in that area during my run, which was new. Usually it only aches when wearing my dress shoes or first thing in the morning. I have to figure out what to do to figure out the cause without ending up causing pain in my knees. More to come on this late-breaking story.

One More for Summer and Another

Never got around to posting Thursday's run, so here we go. It was another day in the mid-90's. Frankly I was so worn out from work that day that it would have been justifiable to stay in and avoid the heat, but those are the kinds of days I really need to run, so I did. A nice breeze helped keep me from a heat stroke, as well as walking regularly. I actually saw about a half dozen people out for a run, which was surprising. I don't remember seeing that many on previous runs where the day was so hot. I went 4 miles and spent a little bit of time cooling off when I got home.

Today was absolutely beautiful outside. I ramped up to 6 miles and made it without walking, other than having to stop for the idiots in cars who can't figure out that a person on foot should have the right of way at a crosswalk. It was in the 60's for the run, sunny, and breezy - refreshing! Plenty of other people were out enjoying the day as well. The forecast calls for temperatures to remain below 90 degrees from here on out, so I guess this is the end of summer weather. I enjoy running in the cooler temperatures of autumn, but I will certainly miss summer.

More Walking

Another hot one in KC today. With the downstairs in disarray while we paint I knew I needed to get outside if I was going to run since the treadmill is indisposed. Once again I told myself that it was okay to walk if needed. Somebody also amped up the humidity, and boy, did that make a difference. Before I'd reached the end of my first mile I knew I'd be walking more than last week before we had a few days of rain.

The funny thing was that I walked four times by the time I returned to the traffic circle at Shoal Creek. I crossed over 96th and resumed running, planning on going to the neighborhood and then walking the rest of the way home. But when I started running again I quickly started feeling bad, as though my systems were having to work too hard to maintain even the slowest of paces. Using some common sense I called it quits after about a tenth of a mile. It made the walk home a little bit longer, but that's okay. Today my goal was to get out and sweat a little. Mission accomplished.

Running in a Hurricane

So it wasn't really a hurricane, at least not any more. Isaac petered out after it made landfall in Louisiana and became a big tropical depression again. It hit the KC area on Friday and lasted through a lot of Saturday. I stood briefly on the front porch and pondered whether or not I should run. It was windy, almost thirty degrees cooler than Thursday's run, and raining. But there was no thunder or lightning, so I went out and ran 6 miles. The last couple were the toughest since I was running against the western edge of the storm, which rotated counterclockwise and from the north. I did walk once by the golf course on the way back, and that was because I didn't want to waste all my energy running uphill against the wind. Once again I left the iPod at home and just enjoyed the run and the weather.

Uncool Runnings

It was 100 degrees today when I started my run. I planned on a lot of walking, just like I did on Tuesday. And once again it worked. Fortunately it hasn't been humid like it normally is during the summer. Plus we had a slight breeze. I walked one time more than on Tuesday, on the hill approaching the traffic circle on the way back. All in all it was a good, slow run. I think I actually sweated more a couple of days ago, but that's because I pushed a little harder. It was another 4-miler and a fitting run for the end of August.

95

I guess you could say I'm as used to high temperatures as one can get. Today the thermometer read 95 degrees when I set out for my 4-mile run. As before, I planned ahead and took a bottle of solid ice, which mostly thawed during the run, and took a walk break every mile. I also kept my pace closer to 11 minutes than to 9. It worked wonderfully. Not that I didn't sweat. Not that at the end I was breathing hard. No, it was definitely a taxing run, even with all that, because of the heat. A month or so ago there's no way I would have run on a day like this. Now that I've done it several times it's manageable. I believe this is called acclimating to the weather. Lower temps would be nice, but I'm not going to complain. I'll save that for winter.

Rain!

Last night I was up late so I stayed in bed later than usual. Or maybe it's better described as staying in bed as long as I wanted. Then I had orchestra practice, which ended early. I decided to run right away when I got home since the day was overcast and rain was threatening. It actually did more than threaten - for one of the few times in the last six months it actually rained! Not enough to really even get the dirt wet, but enough to make me adapt a little bit. I took my iPod with me when I headed out but the sprinkles made me think it would be a good idea to ditch the music in case the rain picked up. I ran out a mile and then looped back through the neighborhood to drop off the iPod and my sunglasses. That turned out to be a good decision as I actually got to hear the raindrops on the road, on the leaves of trees, and even sizzling on the overhead power lines on my way back. It was a great experience, one where I was almost in that runner's high. In fact, I might have been for the last two miles or so. I went 6 miles total and even though I was rained on it was worth every drop.

Missed a Post

I didn't run last week while on vacation, shame on me, but I did run Tuesday and forgot to post about it. I would say the day was summer-like, but since it's actually summer I don't need to say it. The temperature was about 90 degrees and I took my bottle of water with me. I kept it slow and went two miles before turning around. I walked a little up the hill by the golf course and then again up another hill a half mile later. Once I got to the crosswalks I walked again. When I finally reached the neighborhood I walked the last quarter mile. All in all I went about four miles but probably ran about 3.5. It wasn't too bad for my first day running in a week, and in hot weather at that, but the heat definitely did me in by the end.

Today the weather was about the same with a little bit more of a southwesterly breeze. When I turned on the Garmin it told me it had a low battery. I plugged it into the computer, instantly causing a dreaded BSOD, which is a lot less common than it used to be. Apparently there's a conflict with the Garmin driver and Win 7. Won't do that again. Especially when The Wife is reading email. Anyway, today I determined to run a mile and then walk a short distance, which turned out to be three light poles. It worked out pretty well since today's run went a lot better than on Tuesday. I actually ran up a couple of hills I've been walking and count this as a 4-mile run. It's supposed to rain on Saturday but I won't believe it until I see it.

Two in a Row

When was the last time I ran two days in a row? I'm too lazy to go back and look. Today I went 6 miles and had a good run, although at times I felt kind of tight. In fact, a couple of times I felt like an old man running. What the heck?

The last two days I've worn my RoadID all day on my right wrist to keep from bending it. I seriously thought about going to the doctor, but my self-diagnosis and treatment seems to have worked. Tonight it feels about as normal as possible. I decided that if I went to a doctor all he would do is give me a brace to immobilize it for several days. Seems like I was right.

Monday Running

Today was too nice to not run. Plus I've been nursing my right wrist, which I think I sprained last week. The sad thing is that I'm not sure how I did so. Nevertheless it's put me in a spot where I can't do my usual weights. With that in mind and combined with the weather it seemed like running was the right thing to do. I think this was probably the coolest weather I've run in outside in months, with a temp around 74 degrees. I ran 5 miles right at a 10 minute/mile pace. Today I also transferred to another section at work, which brought some added stress. I worked in this area for 3.5 years and as I was running today it came to me that the reason I probably ran so much during that time was as a stress release. Seems like I'm picking right back up where I left off.

Six Plus One

The heat's broken for a few days. This morning it was sunny but the temperature had not yet risen to today's high of 84. I thought about running eight miles or so, but my youngest wanted to run some, too, so I went out for 6 miles and came home to get her to run another mile with me.

She's inspired by the Olympics, no doubt, but this is also the girl who beat all her older siblings and cousins in the Turkey Trot 5k in 2009. Last week at church they announced a 5k at the beginning of October, and she's interested in running that one. It's cool to see her so interested in running at such a young age, and it's up to me to keep her interest level in it. She needs bigger shoes and said at the end of the run that she's not running again until she gets new shoes. I don't blame her. She ran the whole mile without stopping. Once we get those new shoes we can spend the next couple of months building up 3.1 miles.

I saw several people running this morning with their dogs and was a little bit jealous. But then I got to run with my youngest daughter, which was way better.

Out There

Today the temperature seemed reasonable enough to run outside. The wind was blowing and a few scattered clouds made it bearable. Even with temperatures in the mid-80's it was still hot. I made it 4 miles at a pretty slow pace, but it was still better than running inside.

And what is it with drivers not stopping for pedestrians who are ready to cross the street in a marked crosswalk? Is it because they're in a traffic circle and therefore the drivers feel like they don't have to stop? I had another one today who was in the circle and of course I couldn't tell if they were going to stay in the circle or come my way, so I stopped. I don't trust people, especially people I don't know. As usual, it's a good thing I stopped because the guy accelerated out of the circle with no hesitation and no regard for the pedestrian (me). If I didn't think I'd get maimed I'd start running out into the street to make them slam on their brakes. Once in a while I come across a person who slows and stops so I can cross. The only explanation I can find for such drivers is that they must be fellow runners.

Back Inside Part III

I had that blah feeling this afternoon and seriously considered not running. But I didn't something yesterday that I don't normally do - I weighed myself. With all of this inconsistent running it seems I've put on 7-8 pounds, which is not surprising since my pants have been a little...tighter around the waist lately. That thought spurred me to jump on the treadmill (it was 104 this afternoon - not conducive to an outdoors run) and run 5 miles.

I don't run to control my weight, but I will admit it's a nice byproduct. It's been well over a year since my last race and I can tell in my general fitness level. This weekend I put together a training plan for the KC Half Marathon in October. If I can get in the training during the heat of summer I think I can run the race. Maybe not my fastest ever, but at least it'll get me back in the game. Time to kick it up a notch.

Update: After I published this I realized this is the third time I've titled a post "Back Inside." Sometimes my unoriginality can be inspiring.

Outside

This week I was in Philadelphia again, with no way to post after my runs. For some reason I haven't been able to creates posts on my iPad.

I ran twice at Neshaminy State Park. Both days were extremely hot and extremely humid. At least the running trail offers plenty of shade. On Tuesday I ran counter-clockwise and went a total of 4.25 miles. I wanted to get to an even four and ran up the middle of the park by the pool and around the picnic area. That added a little more distance then I'd originally wanted, but a quarter mile wasn't too bad. I was just happy to be running outside again.

On Thursday I changed it up and ran clockwise, which was nice because I had a better view of the river and the Philadelphia skyline. It was a hotter day, or so it seemed, and by the time I'd run two circuits of the park I had no interest in trying to get to a round number. I ended up at 3.75 miles.

Both days my mileage wasn't as much as I'd intended, but I return to my philosophy of effort versus mileage. With the heat and humidity my level of effort was at least as much as a 6-mile run on a spring day. And I certainly sweated more.

Today was going to be a treadmill day. I woke up briefly about 6 a.m. and thought about going for a run then, but sleeping longer won the argument. A few hours later I drove to the store to get some milk and saw a ton of people walking and running because of the thick cloud cover. The temperature was 85 degrees, but the clouds and a little bit of breeze made it seem cooler. I took my water bottle, which turned out to be a good move. I kept the pace slow and easy and went 6 miles. The only time I walked was coming up the hill by the golf course. I definitely needed to slow for a walk since I could feel my heart beating way too fast. I'll be interested to see how the heart monitor recorded that stage of the run.

For at least a week I was able to run outside. That was a nice treat.

Back Inside

This was kind of a lost week for running since The Wife and older kids were out of town. I had offsite meetings on Tuesday and on Thursday it was my mom's last night to be here. In both cases I weaseled out of running, leaving only today to finish out the week. I ran 6 miles on the treadmill again. It went fine but I'm looking forward to running outside again someday. Sure, the temperature was in the low 90's instead of over the century mark, but that's still pretty darn hot. This week I'll be out of town and will try to keep it going, hopefully outdoors.

Weighing the Alternatives

This morning I woke up early enough to have a choice about running or going on a grocery run. I chose to get to the stores and avoid the crowds. As we drove by a number of runners out to beat the heat I felt a twinge of remorse, knowing I would end up on the treadmill again. But I can't be too upset with myself since I really don't like crowded grocery stores and there were some good deals I would have missed if I'd gone later in the day. I got in my 6 miles and some Breaking Bad. Guess I can't complain too much. With more 100 degree days in the future it looks like I might finish Season 4 before the month is out.

The Fun Continues

More heat, more running inside today. 6 more miles on the treadmill and another 1.5 episodes of Breaking Bad. When I left work this afternoon and got in my truck the temperature read 120 degrees. Of course that's because the truck had been sitting outside all day and once I got going the reading plummeted to 106 degrees. I love summer!

It's getting to be time to pick a race. I need to do something this fall and figure out a training plan. Maybe next week when I'm sitting at all-day meetings with nothing better to do.

Back Inside

I'm back to running on the treadmill after Saturday's outing. The temperature is expected to be in triple digits several times over the next couple of weeks, and that means more treadmill running. Yesterday I ran 6 miles and felt just fine. It also helped that the Season 4 of Breaking Bad is now on Netflix. The downstairs TV isn't hooked into anything other than a DVD player, so I had a new setup. I brought the iPad with me and set it on the treadmill console. Unless I'm watching a DVD this might be my new setup for good. It took a few seconds to get used to bouncing up and down as I ran and the screen shifting a little as well, but it wasn't bad. And definitely worth it, both for the run and for the quality show.

Hot and Semi-Stupid

I waited too long to run this morning and paid the price. I had to drop off one of the kids at 10 a.m. at church, and on the way back I saw several people out running and walking. I thought to myself that it seemed okay and not too hot and hey, I should do that myself since I'm a little tired of running inside. I changed quickly and set out. I kept the pace slow and planned on some walk breaks. By the time my 6 miles was up I'd walked five times, mostly on uphill parts so that my core temp wouldn't get too high. As always with these types of runs it's mostly about the lack of shade on my route. I always feel like things would go better if I wasn't in direct sunlight the whole time. I was pretty done in by the time I got home, but not horribly bad. I also mowed the lawn this afternoon, and after that little bit extra outside I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon sitting on the couch and watching a ball game. Which turned out to be a bust since my team lost in extra innings. At least the lazy part of that worked out well.

Two Runs

I started out the week in DC. The high temperatures had plummeted to the mid-80's by the time I arrived, meaning I could run outside. On Tuesday I rode the Metro to L'Enfant Station and walked up to the National Mall. The center paths were closed for construction or something, so I ran the perimeters of the Mall, which were clogged with tourists. I headed east to the Capitol and ran around the pool and went west. Past the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, in front of the Lincoln Memorial before bending around to the Korean War Memorial, one of my favorites. At that point I ran east again through the MLK Memorial and along the north edge of the Tidal Basin. By this point the humidity was getting to me so I walked a little around the Jefferson Memorial. I ran/walked the rest of the way back to Crystal City. The last mile or so I walked. The total for running was about 6.5 miles and the grand total by the time I made it to the hotel was about 8 miles. I love running in DC and even though running-wise it wasn't the best, it was still fun.

Today back in KC there were thunderstorms in the area. The temperature here had dropped but I'm not a big fan of lightning so I ran inside. I finished up Lonesome Dove and got in 6 miles. The treadmill is nowhere near as exciting as a run through DC, but it served its purpose.

Scorcher

Today the temperature on the thermometer in the truck showed up as 106 degrees. Needless to say I ran on the treadmill again rather than dissolving into a puddle out in the hot, hot sun. We're supposed to get a break starting tomorrow, but in the meantime a fan and the treadmill were what I dealt with today. I ran 6 miles, giving me a total of 15 miles for the week It was a good week exercise-wise, with three days of running and three days of weights. It's nice to get back in the swing of things just in time to be interrupted by a trip to DC this week. At least I can take my running shoes and get in a run in one of my favorite running venues.

Joys of Treadmill Running

Still over 100 degrees during the day here, and once more unto the treadmill. Today I experienced one of those joys of treadmill running. I'd done my five-minute warmup and had run for about seven minutes. Lonesome Dove was in the DVD player again and things were going well except I noticed I was sweating a little more than the last few times. It finally dawned on me that I forgot to plug in the fan that circulates the air and keeps me cooled down. I hopped off and stepped over to where the fan plugs into the power strip. As I lifted the power strip my thumb hit the power button, which naturally shut down the whole operation, including the treadmill. Good grief. So I had an unscheduled break while I powered everything up again and returned to the previous state, except this time with the fan running. And speaking of running, I went 5 miles. Now if I could just stop eating so much I might actually feel better about everything.

Treadmill in Summer

With the temperature over 100 degrees outside it was definitely another day for running inside. I plugged Lonesome Dove into the DVD player. It was fun because I haven't watched it in a couple of decades. In fact, I still remember when it premiered on TV because my college buddies and I made quite the event of it. I ran 4.5 miles with more to come on Thursday.

Fo' Miles

I've been lazy. No other way around it other than to admit it. Between being out of town, having company, and other assorted activities, I've been lazy. Now that the temperatures are in the scorching range it's time to get back to some running.

Last Saturday the Virtual Running Partner and I went for a run of 4 miles. It was a good thing we did because that was really the only good time to run while his family was here. It was cloudy and about 70 degrees, but by mid-afternoon the sun had come out and cranked up the temperature to 90 degrees, where it's stayed every day since then.

Today the thermometer is supposed to top out close to 100 degrees. I ran 4 miles on the treadmill with an electric fan trained on me and Field of Dreams on the DVD player. When I came back upstairs The Boy chided me for having a fan and "cheating." I told him cheating was better than running outside and getting heat stroke. Not sure he bought it but I don't care. This will probably happen frequently over the next several weeks until the weather cools down again.

Run/Walk in Summer

Today the temp was about 92 degrees but very windy, so I hoped it would provide a little relief from the heat. Not so much. I took a bottle of frozen water (aka "ice") with me and of course it was mostly melted a couple of miles into the run. I kept it slow, close to 11 minutes/mile, and decided I would walk every mile and a half. That turned into a little more walking and I ended up cutting the run short by about a mile or so. My total was 5.5 miles, but of that I ran probably 4.5. Still, I kept it under control and the walking helped keep my core temperature down. That's key when it's hot out like this, and making the run shorter means I'm not inviting injury for just a little more distance that's meaningless in the long run. Pun intended.

Run and Drive

Ran 6 miles this morning in 80 degree sunshine and then drove to Des Moines to get my big girls. Now I'm tired.

Memorial Run

Tuesday morning started out lazy. I don't usually sleep well in hotels, but Monday night was an exception. I planned to get up and go for a run in the morning since rain was in the forecast. When the alarm went off I got up and checked out the window - it had rained but was not currently doing so. And naturally I went back to bed.

After work I blew off a cocktails and dinner with a group of people and went for my delayed run. I paid for it "forgotten" Founding Fathers. I exited through a hedge to get back up on the 14th Street Bridge and across the Potomac River.

As I neared the airport the early evening flights were coming in from the north, which means they follow the river in from the northwest to land at Reagan National. I'd observed people standing by a parking lot along the flight line as I ran by earlier. This time a plane was coming in so I slowed and let it pass right overhead. The noise was great and the plane was less than a couple hundred feet up. Now I know why people were standing there because it actually was kind of cool.

Overall I ran 7.4 miles with at least another 3/4 mile of walking. Politicians can corrupt D.C. all they want but for now it's still one of my favorite places to run.

Manhattan Running

Spending the weekend again in the Little Apple means an outing on the Linear Trail. I discovered this afternoon that there is a portion of the trail that's shaded. Unfortunately that was not the part I ran this morning, which was decidedly unshaded. That was fun, especially with the temperature in the low 80's. I kept expectations low and ran 6 miles instead of trying to tack on a few extra. There weren't many other people out, meaning that there must be a lot of smart people in Manhattan. Or school's out. Either way, I only saw about five other people in my hour in the sun. I'm glad to say my knees are still feeling good and I gave some thought to running a race this fall. It's about time to get cracking on the training plan.

Dad and I followed up the run with an outing to Famous Dave's for some ribs. He didn't run but he got some ribs anyway. I'll allow that.

Hot Runs

Didn't have time to post about yesterday's run, but we're into the part of the season where all the outings are in hot weather. The temperature was in the upper 80's and I ended up walking up the hill by the golf course on the way back as well as just inside the neighborhood entrance. Which is also uphill. I did my 6 miles and in spite of the heat it felt good. I'm enjoying being able to run and feeling better. As I've said before, it's time to pick a race and start planning for it.

The Argument

This morning I was lying in bed knowing that I didn't have to go to work and arguing with myself about going for a run. That's never the best time to have an argument, because the bed usually wins.

Through the blinds I could see it was cloudy. I thought to myself it's pretty rare that I go for a morning run, and certainly rare to go for any run at this time of year when it's cool outside. No, that didn't animate me.

I ran 20 miles last week, and I know I'm not going to run Saturday. So if I don't run today that leaves me with only 6 miles for the week, which is coming down too much off my weekly target. I'll lose the ground I've gained over the last month or so. Nope. The sheets were apparently made of glue, because I couldn't loose myself from them.

I need the exercise. Too much food lately and starting to feel it around the middle. I pulled the covers up over my chin.

It's swimsuit season. I don't care.

I have a few extra hours before I leave on a float trip. If I don't run then I'll just putter around and do nothing during that time. Is that a bad thing? I could sleep a little longer.

None of these arguments got me out of bed. In the end, I'm not sure what finally did cause me to rise and throw on my running shorts. Maybe it was the weight of all the pathetic arguments finally pushing me off the nice, comfortable mattress because there wasn't enough room for both them and me.

I talked The Wife into running with me and she did her usually two-miler and I hung on for a good 6 miles total. It was breezy out of the north so the run back was tough, but I made it all the way without having to walk. Amazing what a lower temperature will do.

About a mile from home a group of four young, shirtless guys passed me going the other direction. A few minutes later I heard talking behind me and realized they'd turned around and were passing me. I estimate they were going a couple of minutes faster per mile than I was, which means they were probably running a 5-minute pace. Haha. Really, though, as they blew by me with their young bodies and seeming invincibility, I thought to myself , hey, I'm wearing a Heart of America Marathon finisher's t-shirt, which I bet none of them owns. I dragged myself out of bed this morning after a tough debate concerning whether or not to run. And besides, I have at least 25 years on them. I hope they're still running when they're my age, but what matters to me even more is that I'm running now. And enjoying it, no matter who passes me.

Untethered

I was struck by a little bit of fancy this afternoon and decided to run without my Garmin. There were a few reasons - it was quite warm and I wasn't going to run a set pace, I was running my normal route and knew the exact 6-mile distance without the GPS, and finally, I just felt like it. I listened to my body to run the pace that felt right, slowing myself a couple of times because of the heat. I walked the big hill by the golf course again. Although I probably could have run it without too much of a problem, I still felt like it was best to slow a little and take advantage of the shade. We're on the cusp of summer and I'm almost to the point of needing to take a water bottle with me on evening runs.

20 Miles

Even though it was a Saturday The Wife and I went out for a run. Plus we roused Daughter #1 to join us, and let me just say she was less than enthused. Nevertheless, she's training for a triathlon and needs to run when she can. She pulled up lame with an ankle problem that could be related to having to get up too early on a Saturday. The Wife ran two miles with me and then I did another six. Today's total of 8 miles means I ran 20 for the week, the first time that's happened in quite a while. I could go back and research to find out when that was, but I'm too tired on a Saturday night after a couple of holiday cook-outs.

The Knee has been fine the last two days after the scary episode on Thursday. When I was running today with The Wife it felt fine. But just as we split paths and I was running downhill I felt a couple of twinges. It was weird.

The feeling passed within a quarter-mile and I ran the rest without incident. When I was coming back by the golf course I walked for a couple of minutes since I could feel the high humidity and knew it wasn't good for me. I almost felt bad about six minutes later when I had to walk again, but I knew I was overheating. Looking back I can see this is one of those moments when experience paid off. A few years ago I probably would have kept running to get in the full distance without stopping, but I knew today that it was better to slow down and give my core temperature a chance to lower. And now once again I live to fight another day.

Hot Run

Today the temperature amped up to about 90 degrees. The wind was rolling across the plains from the south and kept me cool, but it was interesting because the clouds were driven in from the north. It was another day where I was bound and determined to go 6 miles, which I did. But it wasn't all fun and games.

Less than a mile into the run I felt like my left hip was aching, and the good ol' left knee was balky. So I stopped and walked for about a minute to reset my stride. That seemed to help but I thought about calling it a day and heading in. My issue is that I seem to keep getting back to the point where I run my normal 6 miles on a weekday and then something happens to set me back. I want to get past that hurdle. I kept going and at almost the 4-mile mark I slowed to a walk for two minutes. My stride never felt quite right today, but I was persistent. I walked again in the shade and going uphill before I got to 5 miles, this time for about four minutes. That cooled me off enough to finish the run, not in fine form, but at least I finished.

I wore the new shoes again today and I'm about to the point of being committed to them for every run from here on out. Once again I feel like my problem was a result of the shoes I wore during the day. I need to fix that tomorrow and see how it pans out on Saturday. Today I was more casual at work, but it didn't carry over to the run. As of tonight my knee and hip feel fine. I felt like I was running tight and had to keep relaxing my shoulders and stop leaning forward. My run wasn't fast but apparently my posture didn't get the message.

Back to Normal

Temperature today was on the high side of 80 degrees. I didn't mind though since there was a nice breeze and I'm just happy to have good weather. The Wife ran with me for the first mile and then slowed to walk. She told me to continue, which I did, and after my first turn we reconnected again and ran for another half-mile. At that point she peeled off and I continued. I kept the pace at a decent level and made it so I didn't have to walk any of the 6 miles. The left knee still gives me a twinge from time to time, but I feel like it's almost more a problem because of my daily dress shoes than it is from my running footwear. Whatever the case I just enjoyed the run and slowed on the uphills in order to not wear out my stamina.

At one point about a mile from home a line of guys on bikes snaked past on the other side of the road. They were all dressed so spiffy and streamlined. I was laughing on the inside at their outfits and how they have a nice big group and I'm just...me. About thirty seconds later as they were becoming smaller in the distance another guy came along behind them. He was dressed in different colors so it was clear he wasn't part of the team, but I thought to myself, "That's me." I might be doing the same type of activity, but by golly I'm going to be the guy who looks a little different. And probably comes in last. But at least I'm doing it on my own terms.

Manhattan Run

We're in Manhattan, KS, for my nephew's graduation from high school. It's very windy. Nevertheless I found time this morning to get out for a 7-mile run. There's a trail that skirts the south side of town and encounters the river for a brief period. It's called the Linear Trail, which makes sense to someone, I suppose, because it's not really linear. Along with the wind the day was pretty hot, in the 80s I'm sure, and even though the path was pretty level it was also unshaded. Just like my other runs in the past few weeks I was determined to complete my goal whatever the method, and I did so by walking about five times. On the out-and-back route the wind was against me. It reminded me of the Big D Marathon in Dallas a few years ago where the wind was just brutal. Using that as my lesson I opted out of using up all my energy to fight it and walked when I needed to. My tactic worked and I made it back to the van without killing myself. It was a nice run but I certainly would have been grateful for more shade.

Early Summer or Late Spring?

It was over 80 degrees this afternoon, but I didn't care. It's still nice enough to be part of Spring and I'm going to take advantage of it. This was also a 6-mile run on a weekday and it felt pretty good. My left knee still gives me a twinge at times. I'm thinking it's part of the transition from the old shoes to new and the corresponding adjustment. Today I wore the old shoes. Saturday I'm planning on wearing the new ones. I don't know - I've had issues with new shoes and how my kneecap tracks with previous switches. This time it's not horrible, just a few reminders here and there. I've also had this problem with new everyday dress shoes, but eventually it works out. Or not. As I've said before, more to come.

Tough But In a Good Way

The lack of sleep last night almost got me on today's run, but I slogged through it and made 5 miles. The temperature was up into the mid-80's, but a nice breeze mitigated the heat somewhat. I was certainly in a better place than the last time I tried a run in the heat. This was one of those runs where I never felt like I got into a rhythm, but I kept going. Just like the run on Saturday I told myself I was going to make it the whole distance, no matter how long it took or how much I needed to walk. And I did walk for two minutes on the way back on the big hill by the golf course. I could feel I was a little overheated and I was with the wind at that point, which means there was no cooling breeze in my face. As an added bonus I listened to the new Van Halen album, which I got off amazon.com this month for a mere five bucks. Review in a nutshell: not bad. Sounds like one of their earlier albums. I think it needs a few more listens to form a definite opinion.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

That's not right. The fastest person wins the race. Duh. And today I didn't race. But I did run 6 miles and I kept it slow and steady. Before I ran I told myself that it was okay to walk if I needed to, and it didn't matter how many times because I just wanted to go a full six. I kept the pace slow and steady and ended up running the whole way. That was nice since I wasn't sure how it was going to go. I was listening to a really good podcast and I think that distraction helped. Plus it was overcast with a cool breeze, which kept me from becoming overheated. In fact, we had a brief rain shower earlier in the afternoon and when I first decided it was time to run it was raining. I waited a few minutes and by the time I was ready the rain was past. I wore the old shoes for this one. My left knee gave me a couple of tweaks earlier in the day, so using the old shoes was a good thing for today. Next week I'll work the new ones in again.

Thankful

Sometimes I'm just thankful to be able to run. Whether it's a physical thing, the part of the world you live in, or the cycle of life you're in, sometimes it's just not possible to do it. I'm so glad I live in a place where I don't have to worry about being shot or kidnapped while on an outing, and that I am healthy and able to run without limitation. Plenty of people the world overcome their circumstances to run, and when you think about it I have it pretty easy. I don't mean to get too circumspect and gushy, but let's just say it's one of those days I'm thankful. We all need these days once in a while to realize how good life really is.

The weather was great and I ran 5 miles today. I wore the new shoes for the second run in a row. Like I always say, the test of shoes is not really how it goes on the run, but how it goes in the next few weeks and whether or not there are any knee issues. I will wear the old shoes on Saturday and we'll see how it goes.

Much Improved

Compared to Saturday's painful run, today was a walk in the park. The climate was much better for starters, and I also felt a trifle better. Amazing how it doesn't hurt so bad when you've been eating regular food and smaller portions. Anyway, The Wife and I started out together but she peeled off after less than a mile since she's running tomorrow morning with Daughter #1. That left me to complete a 4-miler on my own, which I did with surprising ease. It gives me hope that I can get back in the groove and up the distance to 5 miles on Thursday and 6 on Saturday. I took the new shoes out for a spin again and everything seemed to go well. I plan to try and work them into the mix more frequently over the next few weeks.

Bringing the Pain

Yesterday I ran. It was one of those "been-out-of-town-on-travel-and-ate-and-drank-too-much-the-whole-week-and-this-was-the-first-run-back-plus-the-temperature-was-90-degrees-and-it-was-painful-because-I'm-not-acclimated-to-the-hot-weather-so-I-ended-up-going-only-a-pathetic-2.61-miles" runs. I don't think I can really say much more than that.

Second Day

I wasn't going to run again today but it was one of those times where the weather was so nice it would have been a sin to abstain. Once I hit the trail at Neshimany State Park again I realized it was quite a bit more humid today. I went 3.5 miles total, a little bit of a comedown, but I knew it was better to take it easy than to push it.

On my first circuit around the park I saw a huge ship south of us and heading north. The downtown Philadelphia skyline was in the background and the scene was very picturesque. Wish I'd had my good camera so I could have taken a nice picture. When I came around the second time I thought the ship would be a lot closer but it really hadn't progressed very far in the intervening twenty minutes. They certainly weren't in a hurry. And today that was okay, because I wasn't either.

Philadelphia

I'm in Philadelphia for the week. One time I was here about five or six years ago was great for running since I was within walking distance of Valley Forge. That was just a gorgeous setting for a run. Where I am now is not so scenic - a major east-west thoroughfare, packed tight with concrete, asphalt, and the accumulation of several centuries of urban sprawl. The lady at the front desk suggested Nashiminy State Park as a destination for running, and I took the opportunity to give it a try.

The park abuts the Delaware River, which I found out is at sea level. It's not a river at this point in geography - it's an ESTUARY. I actually found that out from the pamphlet for the park. Anyway, the trail I ran is part asphalt and mostly trail. Dirt and a little bit of sand composed the path. It was a nice change of pace. The day was overcast and somewhat cool so there wasn't a big crowd out for the day. Multiple times I saw a pregnant woman who looked like Anne Hathaway (with a bigger belly, of course), a guy with a halter to which his dog's leash was attached, a lady with a toddler in a stroller, and at the last three guys who were discussing cross country.

The park wasn't in the greatest shape, but I still enjoyed it. The outer loop is a little less than two miles around. I wanted to run at least 4 miles, which I did, but I had to run up a spur and back on the second lap in order to get to the distance. It's no Valley Forge, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. More to come from eastern Pennsylvania this week.

Saturday Run

Ran yesterday with The Wife on another fine day. It was a bit overcast, but the day was agreeable. I went 6 miles total with a brief walk on the big hill near the golf course.

Other than the actual run, my other major running activity yesterday was in trying to find someplace to run in Philadelphia this week. Let's just say that in the area I'll be there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of space set aside for running. Unless you run the circuit around a great big casino several times. In any case, I think I found a place to go but we'll see. The alternative is the treadmill in the hotel fitness center. No thanks.

More Beauty

Yet another beautiful day. Yesterday was a lot cooler than expected, and today started out with temperatures in the 30's. This afternoon shot up to the 60's with sun and very little wind. I can't believe how many nice days we've had this Spring. I can't remember a time since we've lived here with such a quantity of good running and just generally gorgeous weather. As I've said before, if I wasn't a runner a day like today would convince to get out and do so.

Today's run was somewhat herky-jerky. Monday is not normally a running day for me unless I'm training for a race, but The Wife wanted to run since she has a meeting tomorrow night and going out for a run would be tough with such a tight schedule. And hey, I'm flexible. First we walked about a 1/3 mile warmup and then ran a little over two miles. I stopped by the house to pick up Daughter #1. We walked a quarter mile, ran a mile, and then walked another quarter. My total actual running mileage was 3.62 miles, with close to another mile of walking. I could have run more and thought about going for it, but I was wearing the new shoes again and didn't want to push it. I had fun running with my girls. I'll sacrifice speed for time with them any day of the week.

Outstanding Day

What can I say? It was another gorgeous Spring day. I thought about running earlier in the day but The Wife wanted to run with me and she had things to do. I worked on the lawn and did some other things and we finally hit the sidewalk about 4:30. It was definitely worth the wait. She ran a couple of miles with me and then I continued on to get in a good 6 miles. I took it nice and easy and felt good at the end. Seems like we've had so more good running days this year than in all the years combined since I've lived here.

That was a good start to the evening, followed by fajitas and topped off with some Penny Can. All in all it was a good day. Any day that involves sleeping in, running, fajitas, Penny Can, and a baseball game is an outstanding day. Life is good.

Addition

The Wife was in a sleep-deprived state today and didn't run with me, meaning I was free to choose my own route at my own speed. I passed a guy running in super slowmo on my way out of the neighborhood, but other than that there weren't many runners out today in the gusty wind. I planned to go 5 miles and that's exactly what I did. I took it at an easy pace, not pushing too hard against the wind. It was nice to go five again, and as I've said before, I'm hoping to build on that.

I went back to the old shoes today and will probably use them again on Saturday. Mixing in the new shoes is a slow process but I'm hoping to avoid knee problems. It better work this time.

Let Me Entertain You

It was another nice day for a run. With The Wife back in town it was a good opportunity to go for a run with her. She's had a rough time with her diet and exercise lately, particularly with all the company and traveling we and she have been doing lately. This is our week to get back with the program, whatever that program happens to be. All this meant that running wasn't as easy for her today as it has been in the past, so we did some walking along the way. After my crummy outings last week I was more than sympathetic.

One thing that usually helps to distract her is for me to talk and tell her some kind of story. So today I told her some stories about work to start off the run. That worked for a while, but she needed to walk. So we did, and once we reached the top of the hill we started running again on the downhill portion. Then I told her the plot of The Usual Suspects, which I watched this weekend. That tactic kept us going for another 3/4 of a mile. By that point we were close to the neighborhood and I continued by myself. All told I went 5 miles, with about 1.5 of that at a walking pace. I also wore my new shoes again, which I still consider as being in the breaking in period. Even though it wasn't continuous running it was still nice to get out with The Wife.

Slow and Painful

Today's 3.25 mile run was tough. I planned on running more but it was humid and I just had that heavy feeling, like I shouldn't press too much. So I didn't. The temperature wasn't too bad. I probably could and should have walked some and made it the full distance, but I wasn't thinking clearly enough for that to be an option. Time to start fresh this next week and do better.

Unsatisfactory

Today was cool and rainy. I ran inside on the treadmill and it was not good. For some reason I struggled through 1.5 miles and again I think it was related to not sleeping well this week. Seriously, several nights of that stuff catches up to you. It might have gone better if I was running outside, but I wasn't. So I stopped and decided to call it a day. I'm thinking this is just one of those days of listening to your body and figuring out whether or not it's worth it to keep going. Today it wasn't, I'm sorry to report. Hopefully Saturday goes better.

Wish I Was Running a Race

The weather has been so great and I'm feeling so good that I wish I was running a race sometime soon. Today was another gorgeous day here in the Midwest and perfect for running. I ran south and at the turnaround there was just enough of a breeze to help cool me off nicely. I broke out the new running shoes for the second time and concentrated on my stride, trying to make sure I was getting equal push-off from both feet and keeping everything going in a straight line. As I ran I also tried to ensure I was extending my legs far enough behind me, kind of the follow-through if you will, and getting enough motion through the hips to sufficiently stretch them. The overall run was a modest 4 miles, but I was able to work on the little things and hope they'll carry through to future runs.

It's supposed to rain on Thursday. I'm hoping it'll be scattered thunderstorms so that I can get in a run before the weekend.

Easter Run

Yesterday (Saturday) morning I had a plan. The girls were helping with the Easter Egg hunt at church, although I don't know if you can count scattering 35,000 eggs in the grass as an actual "hunt." Anyway, while they were helping I was going to run 6 miles. Rain moved in, though, and it was cold and breezy. The rain wasn't too heavy, but combined with the cooler temperature I decided to postpone. Which turned out to be a good choice.

This morning after church the sun was out and the air was warming up. I took a power nap and then headed out. The day was beautiful and perfect for a run. I went a full 6 miles at a nice, steady pace and felt good. It was definitely better than Thursday's run. Plus I figured that if Peter and John could run from the empty tomb on that first Easter morning then I could certainly go for a run on Easter as well. And now it's time for some baseball.

Should Have Switched Runs

Today was a bit different from Tuesday. I felt like I could run for hours on Tuesday, but today I thought I was lucky to get to the 4.25 miles where I ended. I think the difference is a couple of nights of restless sleep. Both of the last two nights I've had trouble getting to sleep and then woke up a few times later on. I've noted before the effect interrupted sleep has on my running, and today was just further proof of that.

After some rain this morning the sun came out and it was gorgeous once again. Even though it wasn't the best run I've ever had it was still pretty darn good. I'm loving it.

Good Run

Today I ran 4 miles and really, really, REALLY thought about going for 6. No, really, I seriously considered it. I ran 2 miles with The Wife and then when she peeled off I continued at a little faster pace. After another mile I felt good and that's when the thoughts of going longer started barraging me. It was tempting. I was running free and easy. But I used my brain instead of my sometimes faulty physical feelings and turned around. It was the right choice, but man...

Tornadoes in DFW today, but here in KC it was overcast and pleasant. Thursday I'm planning on taking the new shoes out for a test drive.

Tight Schedule

Today was one busy day. It's the birthday for Daughter #2, which means a breakfast out with Daddy. Then we had Easter rehearsal, and while the girls were getting in costume and makeup I squeezed in a 5-mile run. I finished just in time to dry off and make it to the practice. I ran on North Oak Trafficway, up and down, up and down on the rolling hills. By the time I made it back to the church I was d-u-n, done. The temp wasn't too bad but it was definitely a little humid. Still, it feels good to be back on the road, injury-free, and enjoying myself. I thought about running 6 today but realized before I even started that it would be best to keep it to 5. Sometimes I'm a freaking genius.

Back to 4 Miles

I ran 4 miles today, and it's good to be increasing the mileage. The next week or so is incredibly busy, so any more mileage increases will be slight, if at all. Still feeling good and no knee problems at all. The mowers were out on Shoal Creek but the allergies didn't bother me at all, which is another good sign. Wow, if the good signs keep up this way I might have to consider doing something extreme, like planning on a race before fall or something.

A Spring-like Day in Spring

A little rain moved through this morning and cleared out by afternoon. The temperature was mild with just enough of a breeze to cool me off when I was running against it. All in all I can't complain about our Spring so far. I ran a mile with The Wife and then continued on for a total of 3.5 miles. As much as I'm enjoying the weather I can feel the tendrils of my old foe, Allergies, trying to bring me down. After last year I'm wary of how bad it might be, but so far not too bad. I just remember how much stinking pollen there was last year, especially in June around Mother's Day. Maybe this year will be different since the winter months were so mild and the pollen will be more evenly distributed. Making me miserable longer, of course. Really, though, other than some minor sneezing and snot it's a good start. As always I'm not going to let that keep me from running.

Relative Multitudes

Okay, so multitudes is maybe the wrong way to describe the number of people out enjoying this beautiful Spring day, but relatively speaking I'm not too far off the mark. Lots of runners and bikers were out when the kids and I went to the store, and plenty more when I was on my run. On my way back on Shoal Creek right by the golf course I got behind a mom and her son on bikes. They were going up the big hill very slowly and I almost caught them, but they got me on the downhill. And it's not like I was burning up the sidewalk with my awesome speed. Further up the street I started catching up to them again on the long, gentle uphill before the traffic circle. It was funny because the kid was going serpentine on the sidewalk and every so often he'd look back over his shoulder to see where I was and then would start pedaling faster for about five seconds before going back to his winding ways. But hey, it was a nice enough day for a slow bike ride just as much as it was for a slow 4-mile run.

The Sky Came Crashing Down

At about 3 p.m. today, which was a day off work, I sat on the couch and thought to myself that I could take a power nap or I could go for a run. For purposes of this story, let's just say I chose the nap. And remember, actions have consequences.

A little after 4 p.m. I set out on what I planned as a 3.5-mile run. Dark skies to the south made for a scenic, if somewhat threatening, run. I was just shy of hitting my 2-mile mark when it started sprinkling. I thought about going to my turnaround point but decided I should probably just head back to the house, even if it meant cutting my run short. As I ran west the clouds behind me started catching up and the rain slowly increased. By the time I made it back to the neighborhood it was raining - for real. I kept going amid some thunder from the clouds, hoping that we wouldn't start experiencing some cloud-to-ground lightning. I ran (quickly) up the hill I usually walk up as a cooldown, something I normally don't do. By the time I made it to the top the wind had really picked up and sheets of rain were blowing across the road.

So I got a little wet. No big deal. But if I'd gone out when I should have I could have seen the storm from behind a window. Oh, well. I still ended up going 5k in total, and at a little faster pace than I'd planned.

BTW, my new shoes came in yesterday and it's time to start wearing them around and breaking them in. I put them on briefly yesterday and walked a little around the house. I can already tell there's a difference in how the shoes help my feet track through a stride. I'm going to have to integrate these into my running at a slow pace.

Rain Run

When I stepped outside this afternoon the clouds were merely spitting at me. By the time I finished they were shedding water on me like they really wanted to get me wet. Fortunately they never opened the floodgates and I got only mildly wet. It had rained harder earlier in the day as well as yesterday, so I can't complain too much. I ran 3 miles and felt pretty good. My pace was under 10 minutes/mile, so I feel like I'm getting back on track just fine.

Tomorrow my new shoes arrive. My plan is to wear them around for walking before taking them out for a run. The reviews I saw said they seemed stiff until after the first run, and one guy said he got a blister on his ankle but shrugged it off as expected. Sorry, not in my book.

The Road Back

This morning I got to run with one of my nephews, which was a nice treat. We have a host of people at the house this week from The Wife's side of the family, and one of the nephews who came in last night likes to run. He hasn't run for a while but he kept up for 4 miles with pretty much no problem. Must be nice to be young. We walked up one big hill and kept the pace slow, no doubt more for my benefit than his.

I need some new shoes and I'm looking at changing since I had such bad luck with the last pair of Nimbus that I bought. I'd also like to spend a little less than a hundred bucks every time I have to get a new pair. I'm interested in the Gel Blur 33 from Asics, which I can get for a good price on Amazon. The reviews look good so I think I will head over to a local sporting goods chain today and try some on before committing.

Summer Already

Today it was above 80 degrees. Since we didn't have much of a Winter and it almost feels like we're skipping Spring I guess you could call today Summer in March. Crazy, but I'm not complaining. After several days of non-running due to company and extreme laziness, I hit the road again this afternoon. I struggled through 3 miles with somewhat dead legs, but I blame some of that on the humidity. Strange to have humidity already, but once again, I'm not going to complain. I'm finally feeling good again and hope this time I can keep up the momentum. Seems like nothing but fits and starts the past year. I'm ready to move on.

Running and Ford

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. It's nice to be healthy enough to get out and run on days like that. I didn't have a chance to run while I was in Philadelphia, so Friday I was off work and knew I needed to get out. It worked out great since I had to take my truck to the dealership for a recall notice. I drove my truck down there and then ran home, which turned out to be about 3.25 miles. It was tough since it was up and down the hills of Flintlock, but it was so nice outside that I didn't mind as much.

But wait, there's more! The Wife was out with the other vehicle and the timetable for her return was unclear. Since it kept getting nicer after lunch, I told The Boy we were going to take a walk and get my truck. To his credit, he never lagged or acted tired. Maybe it was the promise of a milkshake plus lots of guy time that kept him going. Whatever it was, we walked back to the dealership and had a good time doing so. I was a little sun-tired by the time we got back and you could see a little bit of red on my forehead from the exposure, but it was worth it.

Running to Flight

I was going to run outside this morning before catching a flight to an eastern metropolis, but the wind was blowing like crazy. I chose to run on the treadmill instead. For some reason it was pretty tough to get going and I ran only 3 miles. I had to stop every five minutes for a brief bout of catching my breath, which is weird for me. I'm hoping it was just the early morning timeframe, which I haven't done in quite a while. Now it's off to one of my favorite places (not) - the airport.

Four Seasons in 48 Hours

Let's just say that Thursday was like Summer, with bright sunshine and a relatively warm temperature. I count it as Summer because I ran in shorts and a t. Then yesterday (Friday), it snowed in the morning and Winter came roaring back into the picture. But by afternoon the snow was gone, the sun was out, and the temperature was 50 degrees, making a nice Spring-like day. Add in this morning with the thermometer hovering around 40 and a strong wind from the northwest driving the wind chill below freezing and we were back to Autumn. It's amazing how the weather varies so much and so quickly. Wow.

I planned on running to Target and back today to get in a 5-miler but I adjusted the route due to the wind. The Wife ran the first half of the route with me and I continued on my merry way to get in the whole distance. Even with the wind blowing so hard I saw a number of people out, getting in their exercise. I guess we're all a little hopeful that the warmer weather will come back and stay.

Is This March?

Wow. Temperature up around 70 degrees today. All I can say is how much I love global warming!

I saw a lot of people out walking as I was on my way home. And once I joined the crowd I saw several more. I probably should have run only 3 miles but I went for a 4-miler just because it was so nice. I kept the pace slow again and today was much better than Tuesday. I think earlier in the week I was still recovering from giving blood on Sunday. Today was much better although my pace was still a glacial 10 minutes/mile. But that's okay. I'm just glad I've been able to get back to running while the weather is nice. Sometimes jealousy is a great motivator.

Sweat

Today was weird. It had rained most of the day, but when I arrived home it had all but stopped. Rather than running inside, needlessly, I suited up and ran outside. I don't know if I'm still fighting off something, if it was humid from the precipitation, or both, but I finished up with a clammy kind of sweat. That's not normal. And it's not like my pace was super-fast. I finished the 3-mile run at a blistering average pace of 10:15. Guess I'm just getting back into it. Sweat or not, I'm still glad to be back to running.

Starting Over

This has been a weird couple of weeks. Early last week I was having abdominal pains, like really bad ones, and I went to the doctor. The Wife knew it was serious when I made an appointment. The long and short of it is that my appendix was swollen but I did not have appendicitis. The thought of the medical people was that I had contracted some sort of virus that affected my lymph system and therefore caused problems with my appendix. I was just glad I didn't have to go through surgery, although at the time having it out would have been a relief.

My doctor told me to take it easy for a while and to eat bland foods. I've done both of those with varying degrees of success. Two weeks without exercise was way too long. Especially with the gorgeous mild winter we've been having. I suffer incredible envy every day I drive home from work and people are out on the sidewalks enjoying the weather. Today I figured it had been long enough so I got out for a 3.5 miler. That was a half mile longer than planned since I ran ahead of The Wife and then doubled back to get her. She had slipped up a side street and didn't realize I was coming back for her. Oh, well. It was great to get out in the sun even though it was a little cold and breezy. I'm keeping an "eye" on the appendix area. I can feel a little something and I'm hoping there's not a muscle tear or something else in the area. Today felt like the first day I've ever been out for a run since it's been so long. I've had enough of this starting and stopping and am hoping I can keep going without interruption for a change.

Hemming and Hawing

I spent a lot of the day going back and forth in my mind about whether or not I wanted to run. As is my custom on Saturday when there's not something else going on, I slept in. Then I had breakfast and knew I'd have to wait an hour or so before running. But I delayed, got busy working on a computer program, went to lunch with The Wife, ate too much, took a nap, did some more programming and some writing, and then it came down to decision time. I got out my shoes and put them back. Then I got them out again and finally decided to do it.

Not sure what the problem was other than I was just lazy. It was cold and breezy outside and I knew I wouldn't be running in that. I guess the thing that finally tipped me onto the treadmill was the fact that I took a nap and decided I would have trouble getting to sleep if I didn't do something physical. This was definitely not my normal way of doing things. But as always, I'm glad I got my act together and ran. This was a 6-miler and it felt fine the whole way. Still no signs of knee problems. And also still no sign of my new issue of Runner's World. Where is it? I renewed my subscription last month so it should be here by now. Maybe that's the inspiration I've been missing.

Today

It was another not-so-nice day outside. I suppose I could have toughed it out but I chose to run on the treadmill and avoid the drama. This involved watching more of WS Game 3 and a bunch of runs for the Cardinals. A LOT. Which was good. I ran 5 miles, but my next decision is whether or not to watch the next two games where the Rangers win or skip to Game 6, which was one of the best World Series games ever. Tough decision.

Where's the Snow?

A little bit of snow was in today's forecast but never materialized. And I'm okay with that. It was still cold and just wet enough to keep me indoors for today's run. I did 4 miles on the treadmill and watched some more WS Game 3. I was just getting into the fun part where the Cardinals started scoring a bunch of runs. I knew it was coming but I had to get through the first three innings, but yeah, it was worth the wait. The Knee is still feeling good, and that's a positive sign.

Time Just Flies

It's amazing how quickly time goes by depending on the activity in which you're involved. Since that sentence is just screaming for an example, I will oblige. Running for an hour sometimes seems like sixty minutes of Chinese water torture. Other times you blink and realize an hour has rocketed past. Today's run was somewhere in between, but more toward the fast hour. Even more amazing, this occurred while I was running on the treadmill.

I've watched multiple episodes of a half-hour sitcom while on the 'mill, and it's pretty easy to mark the passage of time with commercial breaks. Today I was watching Game 2 of the World Series, and yes, there are breaks between each half-inning or pitching change, but those aren't scheduled at regular intervals due to the nature of the game. The pitchers were flat-out dealing and the batters were not having a good day. In the bottom of the seventh the Cardinals scored a run and almost got some more except for an exceptional play by the Rangers' shortstop. The innings flew by and before I knew it my time was up. I thought about extending it by a few minutes so I could watch the ninth, but decided I knew how it went and avoided the pain of a blown game for today.

The weather today was cold and drizzly. I saw a few people out running before noon but knew I wouldn't be one of them. I ran 5 miles with no pain. This is a trend I hope continues. The same with time flying by while running, whether it's inside or out.