Change Up

It was another run on the treadmill today since that darned snow is still piled high all over the city. Rather than just go for a straight run I decided to change it up and make it a fartlek run. I did a 2:30-3-4-3-2:30 pattern and pumped up the pace from 6 miles/hour to 7.5 miles/hour. In the measurements used by everybody but the people who make treadmills, it was from a 10 minutes/mile pace to 8:30 minutes/miles. Overall I went 6 miles and felt good the whole way.

So why do treadmill manufacturers make their equipment with the measurements that way? It makes us have to do math, but that can't be the reason. Maybe it's for the more casual users. Or maybe the common man (and woman) is more easily capable of figuring out that type of system as opposed to those of us who live and die with pace and trying to hit a certain number. It's annoying, but it's what I would call a 21st-century First World problem. Kind of like the person who complains how when they use the remote start on their car and the seat warmers don't come on. Yeah, it's not really a problem.

Snow Again

I was right. We were blasted with snow last night to top off the snow that fell last week while away. It was enough to make deep piles on all the sidewalks and roads. Which means I ran on the treadmill for 5 miles. Sigh.

Last Run Outside

One more run in Texas in nice weather before returning to the snowy Midwest. Today we ran another 4 miles in sunny, reasonably warm temperatures. I knew as we went that it could be a couple of weeks, at the least, before I get to run outside again. The KC area got a foot of snow a couple of days ago and now the prediction is for another 8-10 inches (at this point) for Monday. I thought I'd missed the big snow of the season but apparently not completely. Darn it. I need to live someplace where it doesn't snow.

Texas Again

Another good run today in Texas. Yesterday it was cold and rainy, and today it turned nice again. It was 52 degrees with no wind, or at most a little breeze from the south. I ran 4 miles again with the Virtual Running Partner and his ankle continues to improve. I'm especially grateful to be running in Texas since today snow hit Kansas City in what the weather sites refer to as a blizzard. Ha! I am so glad I missed that.

More Texas

Another run in Texas this morning, this time for 4 miles. It was a new route near Brad's house, through a nice neighborhood and even nicer lake area. The weather was a little cooler but that's okay, because it still wasn't as bad as home. The rest of the day was spent at the record store and playing penny can. It was a good day.

Texas Run

Today we're in Texas and the weather is outstanding. It's vacation time and normally I'd slack off, but I don't want to lose the training I've developed recently. I'm feeling good about my running and don't want to go back to ground zero, so I brought my stuff and plan to run four times this week. The wind was out of the south today but I didn't mind. All I brought to wear for running and shorts and short-sleeved Ts, which means it better stay nice. I went a full 8 miles today and finished with an overall 9:23 pace. Not bad for a long run the day after driving nine hours. I could get used to weather like this.

Valentine's Day Run

Meant to post this yesterday but got involved making dinner and such. The weather was quiet breezy from the north, probably in the 15-20 mph range. That made the last couple of miles tough and I slowed down a little, but still finished with an overall 9:05 pace or so. Not as fast as Tuesday's run but still not bad. On that run I was adjusting the volume on the podcast I was listening to and accidentally hit the skip button, which took it back to the beginning of the podcast. I couldn't find my place again but was able to finish it on yesterday's outing. I've mentioned Hardcore History here before, I think, but I'll say they're really good for a break from music. This was a 5-part series on Genghis Khan and the Mongols. Fascinating stuff, which I knew very little about. In fact, prior to this if you'd asked me what timeframe he and his descendants lived, I wouldn't have had a clue. Hint: it was in the years prior to 1260, at which point the unified Mongol alignment is generally believed by historians to have ended. Anyway, I really enjoyed it. It's a good break from music sometimes, and besides that it's just cool. Very much recommended.

Quick

I knew today was going to be a good run and I was looking forward to it from the time I woke up this morning. The forecast was for a temperature above freezing with little to no wind. For once, the forecast was right. The temp was about 42 degrees and the wind nonexistent. Right before I left work my running time was compressed due to having to pick up a kid at about 6 p.m. I started out quick and kept up a good pace for the entire 6 miles. My one hiccup was when I attempted to adjust the volume on the podcast I was listening to and accidentally started it over. I walked for about two minutes trying to get it back to the point where I'd left off and finally gave up. Overall I finished the distance in 52 minutes, which if I'm doing my math correctly works out to an 8:40 pace. It felt good the whole way.

Some runs are worth waiting for.

Fierce Wind

I should have run yesterday, but allergies kicked my butt and I thought the better decision was to take a nap. Today I had time after church, and I paid for the 24-hour delay. Yesterday was nice and calm, while today is very windy with some fierce gusts. My plan was to run 8. Instead I ran 6 and called it good. It was back to that whole level of effort thing. I actually walked a couple of times up some hills because the wind was just too much. There was one point where I even felt like I was going backward. Nevertheless I'm glad I did it. The sun was out and I put on some sunscreen even though it's early February. I suppose I should be glad the temperature was nice enough for an outdoor run, and I am. I thought about a treadmill run but chose the outdoors instead. Even with the wind it was a better choice.

Suitable

Last night and this morning it rained, but by the time I was off work the sky had mostly cleared. The sidewalks were dry excepting a few spots where mud had run onto the concrete. The temperature was in the mid-40s with a nice, stiff breeze out of the north. It was just suitable enough to run, and so I did. I was feeling blah all day at work, the result of that first feeling of allergies from yesterday, I'm sure. Oh, good. I was hoping that would start early this year. In my ongoing battle to never give in I ran 6 miles and it made me feel better, albeit colder. That hot shower afterward removed the chill from my bones.

I know my pace was about 9 minutes/mile even though I didn't have my Garmin. And how do I know? Because when I started to run I was listening to a podcast that had 57:28 to go, and when I finished it still had at least two and probably three minutes to go. I'm giving myself the benefit of the doubt because the last couple of miles was against the wind and the effort was definitely there. And to top it all off, I'm glad tomorrow is Friday, because I'm tired.

Weathercasting

The weatherman was wrong today. Again.

The forecast high was about 45 degrees. When I was on my way home from work the temperature readout on my truck said 56 and never wavered. I'd say the forecast was wrong.

The sun was shining and with a minimal breeze it was another great day to run. I'd felt congested in the afternoon and if today had been nasty I would have skipped the exercise. As it turned out, I couldn't not run (double negative intended). I ran 6 miles at a pretty good clip, probably in the 8:30 range for most of it. I'm guessing since once again I left the Garmin at home. Beautiful day, nice run.

Variable Running

This was a week of extremes with the weather. I ran in 76 degrees, treadmill, treadmill, and 42 degrees. It was a record-breaking high temperature on Monday followed the next day by wind and snow. Today the temperature ascended to a point above freezing and it was nice enough to run outside. My long run for the week was 6 miles, but in light of the overall mileage it was fine. I made it to 21 miles total, which is a nice uptick from the previous week. As usual lately I ran without the Garmin, and it was nice easy run. Saw several people out enjoying the intermittent sunshine, including one older lady who was shuffling along in a "run." As I've said before I'm not going to make fun of anyone who has the wherewithal to get out and exercise. I saw that particular lady twice and waved to her both times. It's the people who won't get off the couch who don't deserve a wave.