Sometimes

Sometimes a workday saps your soul. That happened on Thursday when I planned to run late in the afternoon, but it was a day full of meetings. Including a last-minute one that should have been an email or instant message, but instead ended up taking 45 minutes. By the time the day ended I just wanted to relax with a cold beverage and cigar. I know, I should've gone for a run to clear my head and rejuvenate my energy level. Oh, well, there'll be days like that. Today I was up early, way too early for a Saturday. I had to wait for daylight before heading out for a 5-miler. What a great morning for a run. 62 degrees and sunny meant I wasn't the only one who had that thought, as there were plenty of runners and walkers out. What is it with people walking on the wrong side of the path? I ran into two, one of whom moved to the correct side and another who didn't. Tell me you're an a-hole without telling me. That guy is probably a horrible driver, too. Okay, enough snark. It didn't ruin what ended up being a good run. I tried to keep the pace quicker than I've been running and it worked. Hopefully next week will be better from the work standpoint and not interfere with my running schedule.

Water Under the Bridge

Rain rolled through early yesterday and now there's water in the stream again. It certainly smells better, which means it doesn't smell at all. I went for a late-morning run today due to a gap in my schedule, which also gives me time to work on my truck later on (oil pressure sensor replacement). Today I ran 4 miles without walking, except for the big hill. I felt good the whole way and tried to keep the pace quicker than the last few months but not enough to wear me out. I did enough to run "faster" while keeping my heart rate in a good zone. I thought about running up the big hill but decided I didn't want to. Overall, it felt good to be outside and being in the zone for a nice run.

Humid Saturday

I don't think the humidity would've felt so bad this morning if there had been a breeze. As it was, the temperature was in the 70s but wow, the humidity felt pretty soupy. I ran 5 miles and I didn't walk until the three-mile marker. From then on, I walked again at the four-mile mark and once again the last quarter mile like I did Thursday. My main reason for the walking was my heart rate. Although it didn't spike too high, I wanted to be careful with the humidity. I also changed things up and listened to Pink Floyd's Momentary Lapse of Reason album. Maybe it's time to go back to listening to podcasts since it's been awhile. Can't stay in the same rut forever, you know. 

Stinky

I went out early afternoon today for a nice 4-miler. Well, the temperature was a little warm, in the low 90s. So I walked every mile and as a concession to the heat, walked the last quarter-mile that I'd normally run back into the neighborhood. Summer is hanging on here in Texas but looks like it's supposed to break next week. I mean, we're almost to October, so why not? The lack of rain has caused the stream to dry up on the far side of the neighborhood pond to the north. That means the place stinks a little, what with the rot and lack of moving water. A chance of rain is in the forecast early next week, but we'll see. They've been wrong before. I missed my Tuesday outing due to a work event in the afternoon and birthday outing for some friends that evening. One thing I've learned over the years is to not fret about missing a run, especially when I'm not in training for a race. The other thing I thought interesting was how the moderately quicker pace I ran in my last outing translated to running the same today, when really I needed to slow down a little. Oh, well. Lots of learning still going on even a couple of decades into this running thing.

Early Saturday Run

I'm at that point where I wake up early every weekday to get started on writing and work, and that now translates to waking up at that time on weekends as well even though I don't set an alarm. So, this morning right about 6 a.m. my stupid body and brain decided the day had started. I headed out the door about an hour later, waiting a few minutes for daylight to actually, you know, do its thing. I ran 5 miles with the temperature at 70 degrees. It was a nice morning for a run, and apparently for a hot air balloon as well since I saw one go overhead. Lots of people out walking, running, and dog walking. Seems like a lot of other people wanted to get out early before it climbs into the mid-90s this afternoon. I'd like to get some yardwork done today but first, coffee.

Sub-12

I spent the first half of this week in Austin on a work trip. Nothing like driving to and from Colorado and then turning around and making a round trip right away to the state capital. Anyway, today I knew I needed a run in a bad way. I felt tired and lethargic most of the day, a sign my energy level is low and needs to be replenished with some exercise. I decided a 3-miler seemed to be the best choice, but once I got going I realized I've been plodding along at the same 12-minute+ pace for a long time, mainly due to growing older and the heat, but mostly growing older. I decided to kick it up a notch, especially now that my Apple Watch provides a current pace readout (see earlier post). Sadly enough, upping my pace by 30 seconds seemed like a big lift, especially since the temperature is still in the upper 80s. It was the right decision, though, and I felt better toward the end. I even ran sub-10 the last third of a mile. As the weather starts to cool, I think I'll make a faster pace a priority over the fall and winter months.

Dogs

Back from vacation and ran 3 miles this morning. The weather was a lovely 70 degrees and sunny, very nice for a run. I did get in plenty of walking in Colorado, with several days in the 7-8 mile range, as well as a bicycle ride one day that probably ended up around a 12-mile-ish total. Maybe more. My watch recorded 9.33 miles but I know it didn't get the whole outing. Anyway, today's events included dogs. I was on the way back and a couple walked toward me with their German Shepherd, and a guy walking my direction with two big dogs. All three of us converged at the same spot on the path and the dogs barked at each other, as well as lunging against their leashes. I'm at least smart enough to not get in the middle of that so I stopped and walked until they'd put some distance between them, earning me a funny look from one of the guys. What am I, stupid? Anyway, it was slightly annoying but ended up being harmless. At least I got out and did a vacation recovery run.