Saturday Six

Slept in on Saturday morning and then took the dogs for a walk before my run. I could tell it was a little humid, but not as bad as in weeks past. I did 6 miles and ran the whole way, even though a couple of times I felt like walking. Even ran up the big hill on Lake Forest. It's nice to be back home and running the usual paths.

Oakland Runs

Apparently one of the major pastimes in Oakland is graffiti. We're staying downtown and ran over to Lake Merritt, where we ran once around the lake and back. Plenty of nice building art along the way. Both Monday and today it was a 4.7 mile run, and not bad. Got up early both days, although in Central Time it wasn't as early as local. Lots of people out running and walking, great weather, and a little exercise. It was a good start to the day both times.

Sweaty Run

I went 8 miles today, the first five of which was good. The last three, not so much. It was very humid today, and I could tell early on I was sweating nicely. By the time I turned around at the midpoint I knew I would probably have to do some walking. The other problem was that on the return part of the route the breeze was at my back, which didn't help in cooling me off. By the time I was in the last mile and heading south into the breeze it felt really nice. All in all I probably walked over half a mile combined, but I figured that was fine since I live to run another day.

Another Nice Day

This morning was much like Tuesday, just a few degrees warmer, and humidity was low again. It was a nice 6-miler. Very few people out, which was somewhat surprising. I ran up the big hill again. I guess it's a little easier when the temperature cooperates. I'm enjoying these mild days while I can.

Tuesday Morning Run

Got up at 6:30 this morning and out the door by 6:45 for a 6-mile run. The temperature was in the 40s and nice and cool, still with a little humidity. It was a good time. My pace kept picking up and I finished at 59:30, which isn't too bad for as little running I've done lately. The sun is also coming up earlier and I'm going to have to start getting up earlier soon.

Family 5k

Saturday morning was great for a run - overcast, cool temperature, and hardly any wind. We all ran the Run Baby Run 2016 5k, and had a good time. I ran with The Wife and she did a great job walking even less than the week before. The kids ran on their own, and Daughter #3 actually got second place in her age group. We left before the awards, unfortunately, but she was still proud when she found out about it the next day at church. Speaking of which, we had a large contingent from Genesis, and they even announced it before the race.

It was a very well-organized event, with several tents for exhibitors, and some good snacks afterward, including a donut for yours truly. Several groups of kids were out with signs along the trail, which was pretty cool. The signs read like a 'best of' from other races I've been in. For me it wasn't the most strenuous of outings but it was good to have fun with the family. Looks like something we can do again next year.

Cool but Still Humid

This morning's run was almost too cool at the start, just as the sun was rising. A couple of miles into it the temperature leveled out in the 60s and the humidity rate stayed high. The coolness helped but I still sweated a lot because of the moisture in the air. 'Tis the rainy season and we pay for it with high humidity. I ran the whole 6 miles except for the big hill on the way back.

We picked up our packets last night for Saturday's 5k. At this point I think I'll run it for fun. I haven't had the opportunity as I wanted to for speed work. This Tuesday was The Boy's birthday, and between taking him out for breakfast and making dinner I just didn't have the time for a run. That leads me to the conclusion that I'll take it easy on Saturday instead of trying to run fast and causing myself an injury. I wouldn't do well in the humidity anyway. Maybe I can find another 5k in the near future where I can get in some better training.

Lunch Run

Today I did a little speed work and more walking than I intended. When I first woke up it looked rainy outside, but once I put in my contacts and walked downstairs it appeared I was mistaken. Even so, I waited until lunch time to run, by which time it was sunny and approaching the warmer range. I ran a two-mile warmup and then a mile at 8:50 pace. Then a walk. Then finished out the next mile and picked it up for another half-mile. Then a walk. Then a slower run. And another walk. Then more runing. And another walk up the hill. And finally a slow run to close it out.

Not my best outing, but I concentrated on the speed part of the 6 miles. Walking was necessary. Still unsure how the 5k will pan out in nine days, but at least I got in the work.

Is It Humid Out Here or Is It Just Me?

Went out this morning for my run since there was a possibility of rain later in the day, and as I expected it was plenty humid. I ran my 6 miles, and it went way better than Saturday's run. Miles 2-4 included a pickup, although I walked briefly at the turnaround. My pace got down to the 9:00 range, and a few times a little under that. For the most part it hovered between 9:15-9:35, though. I'm trying to get a little speedwork in before the 5k, but I'm also thinking the conditions might be this humid then, too. If that's the case my hopes for a fast race will go right out the window.

4 from 6

I set out this morning with the intent of running 6 miles nice and easy. From the start I felt out of whack, and in less than half a mile felt the humidity. By the time I reached the 1-mile mark I'd decided 4 miles would be enough. I walked at that point and a couple more times. I was right - 4 miles was definitely enough.

Lost in California

I spent the week in the Bay Area, which was not too bad. The food was good, and the weather mild but pleasant. I stayed in Redwood City, south of SF and north of Palo Alto. I went out for a 6-miler on Tuesday after work, which unfortunately turned into 8.5 miles.

Since I have the Garmin now to track my run I left my phone at the hotel. All was good along the first three miles, and I made the turn feeling strong. My pace was also excellent, around the 9:15 mark or so. As I headed south and then back to the west along my return route I came upon a sort of traffic jam: a guy running ahead of me who I'd been chasing for a quarter-mile or so, a couple walking a dog, and a lady who just kind of wandered. This was the point where I was supposed to bear right, but instead I got caught up in the mix and didn't pay attention to the street signs. By the time I recognized several blocks later that I was on the wrong street, I made another bad move. I turned left instead of right, thinking I'd stayed right at the previous miscue and my return route was still to the left. It wasn't.

I realized as I encountered some steep hills that I was way off track. This is the point where having my phone would have come in handy. I made some turns, did some walking, and after about 15 minutes or so finally found a street where I could see the bay. Now I knew which way to go. I made it back to the hotel as darkness was falling.

I also quickly decided this was going to be my long run for the week. And my only run while away from home. I still finished pretty strong but knew I didn't need to push it with another run. I enjoyed the scenery, but next time I think I'll take my phone.

7 on Saturday

I didn't know there was supposed to be any rain today, but indeed, I was sprinkled on a couple of times. Rather than an actual distance goal I planned to go my regular route plus a side trip up to the middle school where our 5k starts in a few weeks as well as going beyond the dog park to the circle turnaround. All of that added up to almost 7 miles, which I actually achieved in my cooldown walk. 

My new(ish) Garmin informed me I set personal records for both the 5k and 10k, neither of which were very impressive. I'm hoping to do quite a bit better in the 5k race on April 30th. I'm shooting for 8-minute miles, which might get me close to placing in my age group. The next several weeks will see an emphasis on speed work.

A Fall in Spring

This morning I got out early(ish) for my 6-miler run. It was a great morning, temperature in the low 50s with sunshine. Everything was going well until...the fall.

I was almost 2.5 miles in when one shoe caught in the shoelace loop of the other, and down I went. Fortunately I know how to fall, and I rolled and came back up pretty quickly. All I suffered was a scrape on my right knee and a left shoulder that's a little sore where I impacted, but other than that it could have been worse.

Naturally there was a lady walking toward me, and as I recovered and ran past her she asked if I was okay. I told her thank you and yes, and that I've done this several times before by catching my shoe in a loop. On the return route I saw her again and she wished me a nice day, while she stared at my shoes, no doubt to see how bad they were laced.

Just another day in the ongoing embarrassment I bring upon myself.

Back in the Game

Opening Day was yesterday with the follow-up today (and should be a national holiday, I believe), and I'm also back in the game running-wise. I got new shoes last week and hoped to get out earlier in the day, but work kept interfering. I finally made it out the door about 4:30 p.m. when the temperature was 80 degrees. A little warm for running, clear skies and sunshine, but not as bad as it'll be in a few months. I ran 5 miles and sweated a lot.

I was thinking about running a half in early May and an attempt at a PR, but I just don't have the time to train properly for it. On Saturday I thought a 5k or 10k would be a good idea, and I would have the chance to train for running a 5k fast. On Sunday at church a new friend gave me a card about a 5k/10k that will take place on my regular running trails on April 30th. Talk about perfect timing. I registered for it, and the whole family was interested as well, so they're going to be running with me. Looks to be fun before it gets really hot.

Bataan Memorial Death March

It's a few days after the race, and I'm back in Texas after spending a week in New Mexico. It was so much fun to be back in NM to enjoy the scenery, food, and friends, and not necessarily in that order. I was able to spend time with people I hadn't seen in over a decade. It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to reconnect with old friends, almost as if we hadn't been apart for more than a week.

We started out the visit with a 4-mile run on Thursday, kind of an altitude test/acclimitazation. It was interesting because this run was at 4300 feet above sea level, as opposed to the 700 foot plane we experience in Texas. After running on the south end of Scenic Drive we found a trail that snaked into the foothills to give us some off-road exposure. It wasn't the best of easy runs, but it helped.

On Saturday we headed for the Missile Range, not knowing what to expect. We planned on spending the night in a tent if there was room. When we arrived on the access road, the line was at least fifty cars deep. We spend some time in that line until the left lane started filling up with cars moving past us a lot quicker. I finally got tired of waiting, figuring that maybe I should have moved into the other line earlier. That didn't work out as planned. That lane was for people who'd already been through the initial screening, so we had to turn around and get back in the other line. All in all it took us two hours to get into the facility.

I was surprised by the number of people camping. I thought there might be a couple dozen tents and a few RVs, but instead a few thousand people were spread out all over the south end of the base. We staked our claim to a piece of ground and drove over to pick up our packets. That was uneventful other than the line, but it moved quickly. Once back at the tent we unloaded and sat around until dinner. The pasta dinner was also uneventful, and then we went back to the truck and enjoyed some down time with music and an early bedtime.

During the night the wind picked up and at times it seemed someone was standing outside, grabbing the tent, and shaking it as hard as they could. We woke up about 4:30 a.m. and started the process of getting ready. Fortunately the wind died down to a breeze.

We made the starting area by 6:15 and stood around in the cold. I brought trash bags as a shield from the wind, but they didn't do much for insulation. The opening ceremony was touching, including the reading of the names of the Bataan survivors who had passed since last year's march. The three attending survivors were introduced by roll call, and the American and Filipino generals welcomed us. A chaplain offered a great prayer, and then a medical Blackhawk performed a flyover. After the survivors moved to the starting line we exited the corrals. As we approached the start a race official told us we could shake hands with the survivors but to be careful and not squeeze their hands too hard because they're fragile. I shook hands with all of them and told them what an honor it was for me. I meant it. Then the march itself began.

The first couple of miles were crowded and went pretty quick, with a stop at mile 2 to use a relatively uncrowded restroom. We also walked at the subsequent two-mile intervals, as planned, and then began the journey toward the great uphill. After we crossed under the highway before mile 9 a lady in front of us fell. She was walking and her shoe caught on a crack and she went down pretty hard. I would guess her to be over 60 years old, but we helped her up and she insisted on continuing. Her knees and elbows were a little bloodied, and it must have all turned out right because she passed us in the last couple of miles of the race.

After mile 9 the big uphill began and we started our odyssey of walking quite a bit. The route took us around Mineral Hill, a mountain just barely detached from the Organ Mountain chain. The back side took us up and down through the ridges, and we finally arrived back on the pavement uphill of mile 19. It was downhill for a while until we reached the infamous Sand Pit. This stretch of ankle-deep sand went on seemingly forever. By the time we exited that area and ran a little more we were almost too tired to run any more. We walked most of the last two miles along the perimeter wall, with a final run to finish in fine form.

Once again I got to shake the survivors' hands since they were also at the finish. I read a book a couple of weeks ago on the Bataan Death March and I honestly don't know how anyone survived it or the hard labor that followed. We had drinks and food every two miles, but those men marched all day without water, food, or rest, and then slept where they stopped. All with the constant threat of being bayoneted or beheaded. What remarkable men.

To conclude the race we received a surprisingly decent meal and drinks. After eating we headed back to Alamogordo. As we drove by the course we could see several thousand people still walking. This was the toughest course I've ever run, but was easily the most rewarding experience of any marathon. Even though I don't plan on doing it again (once was enough) I'd recommend this race to every runner or walker. The only complaint I had was getting through the gate, but that was a minor irritant. Everything else was first class. I've been wanting to do this march for several years and glad I finally got the chance. Now it's time to rest for a few weeks and then decide what's next.

Last Texas Run

Today was the last run in Texas before we head to New Mexico tomorrow for the race. It was an easy 5-miler, although it wasn't as easy as I'd hoped. The temperature was around 80 degrees and sunny, and I felt a little tight in the legs. I also ran a little faster pace than I wanted during the first half and kept trying to rein it in. My problem is that both the wind and hills cause me to kick it in, to my detriment.

Anyway, that's done and I'm all packed and ready to head west in the morning. One more short run in NM and then it's race day on Sunday. Woo hoo!

Last Long Run

Today was a 10-miler, the last of the long runs before the race. Eight days to go and then it'll be 26.2 miles in New Mexico. I suppose it's a good sign that 10 miles didn't seem like a long run, and almost like a day off from the longer runs we've been doing. That's where you want to be in your training and not trudging through the last of the Saturday runs. The day was cloudy and very humid, two conditions that will probably not be an issue on the 20th. Time to start packing and getting everything in order to go.

My Favorite Run

The 2x800 run is one of my favorites, as you my longtime reader knows. Today was the first time I've run this one with someone else. Not necessarily the best plan.

I wanted to run on level ground, so we ran on my normal route, which was a battle all by itself. Plus today it was cloudy, cool, and misty. Between the first and second interval the FVRP got a phone call from work, and I left him behind. Both of my intervals went pretty well, although I slowed down on the second to get past some flooding and mud on the path, but still logged a best time of 5:45/mile at one point.

My overall thought is that I need to run this more than once a cycle. For some reason I think it's a blast, even though that's not necessarily my first thought when I'm actually running it. However, the opportunity to run fast (although not compared to elite runners) is something I enjoy.

Post-Rain Run

This morning a big line of thunderstorms rolled through the area. It was supposed to break up by lunch time but finally died down about 1:30 p.m. I was beginning to think we wouldn't get in our run, but the sun actually came out and we hit the road for 6 miles. The plan called for speedwork but we decided that wasn't the best course given the post-rain humidity. When we finished up the humidity level was 70%. Could have been worse, I suppose.

A week from tomorrow we leave for NM and the race. Hard to believe it's almost finally here, but also glad to have the worst of the training behind us. We're expecting the worst for the race, weather-wise and the course. Regardless of how that goes, it'll be nice to be back home. Haven't been there for seven years, which hardly seems possible that I would be away for so long. Looking forward to some good food and spending time with old friends.

A Little Warm

When I looked at the forecast for today it said 72 degrees by noon. That was wrong. It was actually closer to 80 degrees, and if you believe the sign in front of the school at the finish it was actually 80. Fortunately the humidity was down, but so was the breeze. It was a tough slog, but we finished the 15 miles.

In actuality it was probably good practice for the race since there's a good chance the weather will be this warm there, too. I'm glad we're through with the long runs as we taper toward race day. Next Saturday is a 10-miler, but at this point that seems like a walk in the park.

Hills and Speed

The FVRP wasn't too happy about running hills this afternoon, but it had to be done. He suffered a little as we went out against the wind, walking a few times, but on the return route we had the wind at our backs. He misheard his Nike app and thought we had a half-mile to go when in reality we had a full mile. By that time he was feeling better and kicked it in. I made a remark about it and he asked how much more we had to go, which at the time was still over half a mile. We kept running faster and I thought my new Garmin was giving an incorrect pace, especially when we went sub-8. By the time we finished the 6 miles the pace showed as 7:20, and our last mile was done in 8:07. Not bad for a couple of older guys. The last part felt good.

My left calf was a little cramped today, the first time I've felt that since I started foam rolling. I did an extra-long rolling session this evening and I'm hoping that will help for the long run in a few days.

An Easy One

We're at the point in the training plan where a 6-mile run seems like a jog around the block. That's a good thing, because it means the training is working. We ran the Craig Ranch route on a nice sunny afternoon with some wind out of the north. Also, it was the second outing with the new Garmin. I need to get a little more used to some of the features but that'll come in time. Good day, good run.

20 Felt Better

Today's 20-mile long run felt way better than the previous weeks' runs of 14 and 18. For a couple of reasons, I think. First, it was not humid at all, which killed us last week. And second, maybe this whole training thing is starting to pay off.

After last Saturday's debacle with my iPhone, which continually keep prompting me as if I'd invoked Siri and didn't play  music for the last half of the run, I decided there's no way I'm going to put up with that again. I ordered a Garmin Forerunner 620, which came in Thursday afternoon (it was supposed to get here Wednesday - that's not a two-day delivery from Sunday either, but that's not the point of this story). I charged it and then played with it briefly on Friday, and then hoped it would go the whole 20 miles today without incident. I'm happy to say it worked great. It was nice to have the info on my wrist instead of contorting myself to look at my phone in it's holster on my upper arm. I put it back on the charger and it was only down to 65% after four-plus hours. I got it for a great price on Amazon, and other than the delayed delivery I'm happy with it. More to come on that.

We ran through the Craig Ranch area and then southeast, like we did a few weekends ago. We thought the trail went a lot longer than where we turned around last time, and we were wrong. Fortunately we made it up with a different path on one of the creeks, like we did previously so we didn't have to run the hills in Craig Ranch again. I'm a little stiff now, but that's to be expected after 20 miles.

Every day this past week I used the new foam roller Daughter #2 got me for my birthday last weekend. I rolled my calf muscles, hammies, and hips. None of those bugged me at all during the run. The only thing caused issues were my quads, which I rolled only once last week. Not sure if the rolling made that big a difference, but trust me, I'm going to keep rolling before the race.

As far as long runs go, this was by far the best we've had. Three weeks from tomorrow it's race day. This was a good step toward being ready.

Missed One

Tuesday was just a nasty day. Rain, high winds, and cool temperatures. After a full five seconds of internal debate I decided not to worry about running. So I didn't.

Today was a different story. Temperature in the 50s, sunshine, and just a little breeze from the north. We ran 6 miles. Since this Saturday is our 20-mile day I'm sure missing a day won't hurt too much, and today was a pretty easy run. I'm looking forward to being done with the long run in a couple of days and then the taper to the race. The FVRP said he was looking up some reviews and that it's going to be worse than we thought. Well, I wouldn't expect a race named after the Bataan Death March to be easy.

A Cake Walk

Today the humidity was up, and that spelled doom for our 14-miler. We walked a lot, and hydrated plenty, but it was still a cake walk. (for reference, check the television show Cougar Town for the usage of that phrase in the last sentence). It totally kicked ass. (also a Cougar Town reference)

I tried a new belt with larger bottles and did not like it, other than the fact I had enough to drink to get me to the end. I also wore my new boonie hat, which I will be wearing during the actual race. It was lightweight and breathable, for the most part, but I still took it off a half-mile from the end when we were running into the wind, mainly to cool off.

Not one of my favorite runs ever, but we finished. And that was the goal, after all.

Solo Hills

Today I ran by myself, and it had its moments, both up and down. I went out early to avoid the high winds that are predicted to intensify during the day. I probably went out too quick, and on the turn from Stonebridge onto Virginia I had to walk a couple of minutes after running uphill against the wind. My 9:24 pace for the 6 miles was the fastest for a run since I started using the Nike app, beating a November 3rd run by two whole seconds per mile. Overall I felt pretty good, and the fact that I'm running in shorts in mid-February makes me happy.

Unintentional Speedwork

Today's plan called for speedwork, but after our 18-miler on Tuesday and a crappy night of sleep for the FVRP, we decided to take it easy. Except he didn't. He was pushing and running at a faster pace than I wanted. For the first half I kept trying to rein him in, but he kept pushing. At the halfway point I decided that was enough of that. I started speeding up myself, bit by bit, until we were finally going at a pretty good clip. He mentioned that I was running faster, and I said I know, I'm going to run you into the ground. We finished the 6 miles at a pace just under 10 minutes/mile, and that includes a walk of a couple of minutes. Not bad. Maybe he should have a restless night before every speed workout.

Up to 18

Today's long slow run was an 18-miler, next to the longest we'll run during this plan. We tried out walking every two miles, starting at the two-mile mark. I think it worked okay, but we'll see tomorrow how the recovery feels. By the end of the run it certainly didn't feel much better, but my thought is that 18 miles is going to hurt no matter what. I can say this afternoon that I feel better than the same point in time after last week's 15 miles, but again the true test is when I wake up in the morning.

We ran southeast, along a trail that took us into Allen and almost to Hwy 75. We're thinking it might work for our 20-miler in a couple of weeks since we didn't reach the end of the trail, but that's going to require a little bit of research. My hips, knees, and feet were sore by the end, but again, that's expected. I was doing some looking at the Bataan race site, and let's just say I expect it to be...challenging. Not sure I can get in the kind of training around here that it requires. At least we'll be there four days early to try and get used to the altitude. Unless we go find a desert in this area with some big hills we're out of luck. All we can do is keep training on the local hills and get in the distance.

Perfect Day

The temperature seemed a little warm for our run this morning, but this being mid-February I can't complain that it was about 60 degrees. The sun was shining, the wind was down, and it was just...nice. We ran the 6-mile hill route and it went okay. I felt like we were pushing some, but the FVRP had trouble with the "heat" and had to walk a few times. I didn't mind since that's what we'll be doing in the race. All that aside, I'm just thankful for a gorgeous day.

Change to Easy Run

The weather didn't cooperate for an outing yesterday - I mean, I probably could have gone out for a 4-miler, but the 30-mph winds kept me inside. I decided I needed the extra day off more than a run in those conditions.

Today was supposed to be a marathon-pace run, but I changed it to an easy run since both the FVRP and I still felt banged up from Saturday's long run. I think it was the right choice, and I know I felt better after the 6 miles than I would if I'd tried to get in some speed work. Plus there was very little wind compared to yesterday. Sometimes the wise choice is the easy one.

Painful 15

Today's run started with misty skies and a temperature around 40 degrees. We ran a couple of miles through the neighborhood and then stopped by the house to pick up our fuel belts. Then we ran an out and back route, past Towne Lake and into an older neighborhood. By the time we got to the lake I was in a little bit of pain, and that didn't really abate at all. Right before we hit 12 miles I had to stop and walk because my whole drive chain felt out of kilter. Walking for a couple hundred yards helped, and I made it the rest of the way without incident. The FVRP tweaked his hip as we made our last big turn 3/10ths of a mile from the finish and we had to walk a few minutes there.

I think I felt worse after a shower and short nap, but once I got up and started walking around I felt a little better. I'm a little surprised how bad I felt during and after the run. I'm inclined to run a short 4-miler or so on Monday to stretch out a bit and do something easy. Hopefully my work schedule will allow it.

Hill Run Again

It's nice to be able to break out midday for a run, and due to my schedule today I had to wait until mid-afternoon. The schedule called for hill running, and the FVRP had to run on his own since our schedules didn't sync. I ran the 6 miles in an overall 9:27 pace, which ain't bad. The temperature was about 50 degrees with a stiff breeze out of the NW, but overall it was pretty good for a run. I was able to wear shorts with a long-sleeved technical t-shirt. The sunshine was nice, too. Not a lot to complain about on this run, and it's one of the better outings I've had lately.

Back to Yasso 800s

Today we ran in the wonderful wind and did some modified Yasso 800s. With the lack of a good GPS watch I decided we would run half-mile intervals, which is pretty much the same as 800m, and then a half-mile recovery instead of the 400m that the plan prescribes. It was actually a pretty good reintroduction to speed work, and allowed us to walk a little for recovery. The Craig Ranch neighborhood gate was open and we were able to stay on relatively flat ground. My Nike app reported to me afterword that I set a personal 1k record somewhere in the 5-minute range, and that seems suspect to me. I don't think I was ever moving that fast. I think if I had I would have felt like puking at some point.

Somewhat Painful

Today was a 13-miler and it was a little bit painful. The first five miles was okay, but by the second route around the neighborhood I was tight in the hips, knees, and calfs. It was a gorgeous day, so that wasn't the problem. I think it's mainly a result of extending the distance for the first time in about 18 months or so. This is part of the training process. I've been here before and know that it will get better. At least that's the goal.

Alone on the Hills

Ran by myself today with no walking. I ran the same route as Tuesday, hills on Virginia and Stonebridge, and felt much better. Still not 100%, but close. I was tempted to walk a few times, but not too bad. I picked up the pace the last half-mile and finished with an average time of 9:36. Not too bad, with a pace of 9:01 the last mile.

According to my Nike app, that was my 10th run this month with a total of 72 miles. On Saturday we'll make that run #11 for a grand total of 85.1 miles for January. And that's after missing a couple of runs last week when I was in Austin and didn't feel good. At the moment I feel like I'm on track for the race in March.

Stupid Hills

The FVRP took out some workplace anger on the hills of Stonebridge and Virginia Parkway today. I'm still recovering from last week and could have used a slower pace, but at the finish of our 6 miles I told him that next time I go out like a rabbit and he complains to remember today. The problem for me is that I feel about 80% back to normal but my breathing wasn't quite up to snuff yet. My airway felt a little restricted but I stuck with it. Hoping a few more nights of good sleep will clear up this stuff.

Busted Week

A big missed opportunity this week to run in one of my favorite cities, Austin. I flew into town on Monday and out again on Wednesday, leaving a couple of evenings to run down by the river. On Sunday afternoon I was hit with a big allergy attack, and it continued even worse over the next couple of days in Austin. On Tuesday I got back to the hotel about 6 p.m. and went to bed, sleeping until 7 the next morning. So much for running in a great city this time, but I'll be back.

I haven't run at all since last Saturday, and today called for 11 miles. Fortunately I finally felt close to normal when I woke up this morning, which wasn't the case as late as yesterday. The FVRP and I did two circuits around his neighborhood to get in the mileage. I took a few more walk breaks than usual, but it was needed since I was trying to not push too hard after a lost week. We made it. My left hip felt tight during the run, and this afternoon my right calf has been hurting. Oh, well. All signs that I'm in the midst of ramping up the mileage.

Slog

Today's 10-miler kind of turned out to be a slog. Neither of us were looking forward to it, and a temperature around 40 degrees with a stinging wind out of the north didn't help. We walked a few times but slogged through. Our route took us past the dog park and into the loop south of Virginia Parkway, which turned out to be waterlogged in places. On the way back we skipped the loop.

Although it was cold, for Texas, I kept counting my blessings since the cold here is nowhere near the colder runs from my KC days. At one point I remarked that weather like this felt warm during all those sub-freezing outings in Missouri. There were times I would have killed for this kind of day. No complaints.

Blast

Ran 6 miles on a few hills today even though the plan called for an easy run. In addition I ran the last two-tenths at a sprint, which felt really good. The weather was warm, in the 60s, with a nice stiff breeze from the west. For me it was a good outing, not so much for the FVRP. After a trip to Vegas for work it was good to get out and enjoy a run and not feel like crap.

I looked at the plan for the next few months and it ramps up pretty darn quick. At least I'm not trying to train for this in ice and snow.

Another Cold One

It only made it to the upper 30s today in North Texas, with a stiff wind out of the WNW. We ran our 9 miles and again, it wasn't horrible. The FVRP had to get on a plane to Vegas this afternoon, and I'm doing the same tomorrow. I think it will probably be worse for him since at least I get a night of sleep in between my run and sitting on a plane for 3+ hours. So far our training plan is going well, and we're planning to run in Vegas, but we'll see how that goes. Lots of meetings and several late nights ahead, I'm sure.

More Hills

Today was another hilly run. From what the FVRP has said over the past several years he had trouble finding hills to run around here. Not so. It's probably just the part of the city we live in, but there are some hills that are a real pain in the butt. Not as steep as a few of the worst ones in KC, but still plenty good for training. There was a cold wind out of the south but by the time we were four miles in the sun came out and it started to warm up. I remarked that it was a tough run for planning how to dress. We got our 6 miles in, pre-Vegas, and we're taking our running gear. Whether or not we follow through is another question.

Frigid Run...for Texas

The temperature hiked up to around 40 degrees this afternoon, but there was a nice cool breeze to bring the temperature down. We ran from the FVRP's place, and he was kind enough to lend me a hat since I forgot mine. Our outing was after work and fortunately before the sun went down. We did a 6-miler, out and back, and I felt good. I used to run after work all the time and it was a good de-stresser, and it worked that way today, too. We had an announcement about our VP leaving and there are a lot of unanswered questions, but things will shake out. They always do.

First Run of 2016

We ran 8 miles today and it wasn't too bad. The weather was a little warmer than last Saturday. We ran the same route, except a little further at the end before the turnaround. I know in a few weeks I'll be thinking of how a run like this is a short run, comparatively speaking, but today didn't really feel like 8 miles. We kept the pace slow, knowing that we need to build up endurance rather than speed. And besides, the actual race is going to be for the experience, not for time. Not that we can't do our best to finish as quick as possible, but if we have to walk a lot that's okay. I guess the more we practice walking during a run the better, right?

Last Run of 2015

The FVRP and I ran hills today in a wind that seemed to shift to blow out of whatever direction we ran. He felt good, and I felt decent, and all in all it was a good way to end the year. We ran 6 miles, most of it up and down Stonebridge to 380. We ran past a kid whose car was crashed into the median apparently less than a couple of minutes before we got there. By the time we ran by again the police had arrived and were talking to the driver of the car that must have hit him.

Reviewing the whole year, it's pretty apparent my running was sporadic, but I still kept at it even in the midst of the preparing our KC house to sell and moving to Texas. I'm glad to be here and still running, and I'm looking forward to regaining some consistency in 2016. That starts with the Bataan Memorial race in March, and maybe something later in the spring and certainly a race in the fall. Goodbye 2015 - unlike my running pace, you went by fast.

Speeding Up Slowly

Ran by myself today at lunch, in the coldness of North Texas. And that is much better than the coldness of KC. The temperature was in the mid-30s and brings to mind how many times I ran when the coldness dipped into the teens. So I can't complain, and I won't.

I ran 6 miles and it was the first speed workout on the plan. Now that I'm done with it, speedwork at this point is probably too early. I did three miles at a tempo pace, which for me right now is nine-minute miles. I did okay for the first mile, and then walked at the 1.5-mile mark, and then again at 2.5, and finally walked up the big hill. My legs felt heavy by the time I reached that hill. I was happy that I kept up that pace when actually running, especially since I don't have a watch and just go by what the Nike app lady says. I might actually have to get a cheap watch or a new Garmin.

Post-Christmas Run

It was a run for the day after Christmas, the overstuffing of ourselves yesterday made a lot more difficult with 85% humidity. As I remarked on the run, humidity is my running kryptonite. We walked at least five times, but in the end we made it through our 7 miles. We ran a route along the Craig Ranch golf course and north past Stacy. I would count it as a so-so run that counts as an accomplishment that we made it.

Jingle Bell Run

Made it out on Christmas Eve today for a 6-miler with the FVRP. We ran my normal route and he complained about the distance but did fine with the exception of a couple of walks. The weather was great once again, with enough breeze to cool us off somewhat from the temperature in the upper 50s. I felt pretty good and my right knee seems to be doing better.

For the family, our Christmas Eve tradition of making tamales remains intact. And man, were they good. So glad to have leftovers.

Now I have to go to bed so Santa will come.

Onward and Upward

Last week's progression was 4-5-6, and this week we're going for 5-6-7. Today's 5-miler went pretty well, although the FVRP complained about the "heat." Yeah, it was all of 70 degrees today, and it was pretty darn nice. Another beautiful Texas day with mostly blue skies and a few high clouds.

At the moment I still have some runner's knee, but it's not as bad as I've experienced in the past. I'm hoping the problem is because of the different shoes I keep wearing, but I probably also need to get a new pair of running shoes. Pretty sure I'll need them before the training cycle is through.

New Route

Rather than run the normal route for 6 miles, today we went over to the dog park and started from there. Normally the dog park is the turnaround point. I figured it was time to do a little exploring and the route was pretty nice, through some woods, past soccer fields, under the highway, and around Towne Lake. The temperature was cool, around 40 degrees or so with a slight breeze, but the sun was shining and it was really a good day for running.

The last tenth of a mile we kicked it in for a sprint to the finish. Hadn't run fast in a while and that was kind of fun. That was a 15-mile week. Not great, but it's a build-up to the beginning of the training plan, which starts...tomorrow. With a rest day. Now that's my kind of training plan.

Frosty Morning

Once again I went over to the FVRP's homestead and we ran 5 miles together. The temperature was in the upper 30s and plenty of frost had settled on the grass in the neighborhood. The FVRP mocked me briefly for wearing shorts and long-sleeved t, telling me I was going to freeze. About two miles into the run he had to shed some layers and wasn't mocking me any more. Of all that I was glad to be wearing mittens and a stocking cap. If I hadn't brought those along I certainly would have resembled a popsicle a lot more closely.

Late DayRun

The FVRP and I ran after work on Tuesday, a nice 4-miler around his neighborhood. It's part of the loop he used to run when doing his first marathons. The loop took him by his house so he could refuel, bail out if he was a wuss, and generally get dizzy running in circles. It was interesting to see the various parts of the neighborhood - the "smaller" homes from the first phase compared to the huge homes that were built later. It was a beautiful mid-December day. Ah, it's nice to be in Texas.

At The Boy's karate last night one of the adults in his class asked  me when I was going to join. I laughed and said that wasn't going to happen since I don't need to injure myself when I'm training. The other fact is that The Boy won't run with me, so I'm not going to do karate with him. Seriously, though, I've been doing this long enough to know that bringing in different movements is going to likely mess up my knees, hips, or something else. I know I need to do something different to take care of problems like my cramping calf muscles, but I don't think karate is the answer.

Texas in Mid-December

Today was gray but not cool, and plenty humid. Rain is supposed to be on the way but this morning when I ran with the FVRP it was just a little on the humid side. We ran 6 miles through the Craig Ranch area. The breeze was up quite nicely, which helped a little with the humidity but also made it a challenge at times. We walked a few times as we gear up for the beginning of the training plan. Once again, I can't complain about the weather here in Texas. This is nice, especially for this time of year.

Midday Run

The FVRP came over early this afternoon and we ran 4 miles together. For almost mid-December it was a gorgeous day. Heck, it was a beautiful day for any time of the year. Low 70s and sunny, with just a little breeze from the south. It almost seemed hot at this time of year, but no complaints here. We realized that if we want to run at White Sands in March then it's only a little over three months away and we need to get our butts in gear. That means getting back into the groove and running regularly. Today was the first step to New Mexico.

Sister Run

First Sister was in town this weekend, and we were able to run together yesterday. She's training for a 10k, and of all things a half-marathon. She can hardly believe she's going to run that far, but it's cool to hear how much she's enjoying running. With knee problems behind her she's in it for the long haul. I'm still getting over my head cold and stuffiness, and she asked a couple of times early on if I was all right since I had a bunch of phlegm in my throat. We made it 4 miles, with a couple of walks. It was fun to run with her and hopefully we can do it again in the near future. It's especially cool to run with someone who never thought they would be a runner, and experience the joy of it through their eyes.

Through the Debris

Wish I'd had time to run while I was in Austin this week, but our office and hotel were both out on the northwest side of the city. Yesterday (Saturday) I felt like crap - stuffy head, stuffy nose, sore throat, all a result of something I probably picked up in Austin or on the plane. I thought going for a run would be a good opportunity to...expectorate. Yes, I've done this before where my discomfiture was above the neck line and it was a good idea to get out and clear the system.

It went well for the first half, although I walked at 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and up the hill. Not the best of runs, but I'm glad I did the whole 6 miles.

A lot of the debris from earlier in the week was gone from the paths, with traces left behind from the bobcat or whatever they used to clear the mud and twigs and stuff. In a few spots there was still a layer of dirt, but at least by this time it's dried. It's amazing how high the water rose.

Flooded Paths

We got a lot of rain this past holiday weekend, and in fact when I drove around on Saturday morning a number of parks were flooded. The path where I normally run was under a lot of water by the bridge on Hardin. In several places the water was rushing through quite fast. The "crossroads" on the path south of Virginia Parkway was totally under water, as were the soccer fields adjacent to the path a little further down. Today I went exploring, thinking since it's been a few days the water should be gone for the most part. It was, but it left behind a lot of mud and debris. I expected I wouldn't get my full run in, and in fact was lucky to make it to 4.5 total. In several spots I had to walk in order to keep from slipping in the thick mud, and veered off the path a few times to avoid the muddy sidewalk. When I came back across the bridge I tried the other spur of the path, which was actually a little bit worse. I'm hoping by the time I get back in town it's cleared off, and it helps there's no more rain in the forecast.

Solo Turkey Trot

The local turkey trots were too expensive this year, and so I went on my own this morning. I was waffling on whether or not to go for a run, but when I stepped outside and the temperature was in the 60s I knew I couldn't pass up a day like this. Since it's a holiday I also figured the traffic wouldn't be too bad and so I tried a different route. Rather than running on the trail toward the dog park I stuck to the surface streets, and I was right - the traffic coming out of the side streets was minimal.

I ran south on Lake Forest, west on Eldorado, north on Ridge, and then east on Virginia back to the neighborhood. The wind came out of the southeast and actually felt good since the humidity is up a little. It was a nice exploratory outing that ended up about 6.2 miles. I cut corners on both ends of Ridge, which probably would have made it just a tiny bit longer. I also walked about a minute on Virginia. All in all it was a nice outing and I'm glad I got off my butt to do it.

Tuesday Afternoon

I intended to get up early and run before work. Even laid out my long pants and long-sleeved shirt since the temperature was supposed to be in the 40s. Unfortunately my laziness took over once again and I reset the alarm clock. The good news is that it worked out fine because this afternoon I had time to run before the sun went down. The day was overcast and a little breezy, but otherwise fine since the temp was in the low 60s. I ran my usual 6 miles and it went well. Not too many people out, surprisingly, but since school is out for the week maybe they're all getting their exercise done earlier in the day.

The Wind in Texas

The FVRP came over this morning and we ran 6 miles in a blustery wind. It reminded us of the Big D Marathon several years ago when we endured similar temperatures (in the 40s) and high winds. That was not one of our favorites, btw. This time we took it quite slow, and especially for the FVRP since it was his first six-miler in quite awhile. Overall we felt good, and it was nice to have the wind at our backs up the big hill on Lake Forest. I need to keep up the running as holiday season approaches. And beyond.

Better Run

Today I was going to run at lunch again for the second day in a row, but a series of late-scheduled calls postponed my outing until late afternoon. That was fine because it was a beautiful day, sunny and 65 degrees. It was breezy but not too bad. Today's run went much better than yesterday. My Nike app is behaving oddly and not playing music when I start, so I just went with it and went with silence for the first half, thinking music would motivate me during the latter part of the run. I was right. When the music kicked in at after mile three it helped get me through the doldrums, such as they were. Not sure if running 6 miles two days in a row was the best idea, but at least it was a good run.

Lunch Run

The past couple of days have been rather wet, but that's all pushed off the east now and the sky is blue. However, it was quite chilly this morning, and I decided to wait until midday for my run. I went 6 miles and let's just say it wasn't my best run ever. I walked three times, one of which was up the big hill on Lake Forest, but I went an extra .13 miles so I think I made up for it a little bit. Nevertheless, my legs felt sluggish and for whatever reason I didn't feel 100%. I'm planning on running again tomorrow, my normally scheduled day, and I think it will be lunch or later again.

Yesterday

Ran 6 miles on Saturday, along with the FVRP who ran 5. It was nice, overcast but with a great temperature for running. Plenty of people out by the time we hit the trail at 9:30 or so. I still need to rein in the diet and get my weight down.

Another Interlude

My running pattern seems to be full of gaps since moving to Texas, but hopefully this is the last one for a while. This time it was definitely planned. Spent the weekend on a guys' getaway in SE Oklahoma and had a great time. I could have run on Tuesday after returning home Monday, but decided I needed sleep more than exercise. And I was right since I slept nine hours Monday night.

I set out today with fresh legs into sunshine and mild temperatures. And by set out, I mean I set out too fast. I knew it and kept trying to rein it in, but it took until the fourth mile to get my pace under control. The first mile was 9:20, and then I went 9:38, 9:29 (still too fast), and finally 9:51, 9:54, and 10:07. I much prefer negative splits, but in this case I'm happy with getting slower. It really was a gorgeous day, though, and I didn't feel horrible at the end. I suppose that's something.

Light Again

Thanks to our idiot government overlords we had a time change again this weekend, which had the effect of making the day lighter when I go out for a morning run. I left at 6:15 and it was almost light. Of course that won't last long, and I don't like the early evening darkness. For 6 miles this morning it was okay, though. The run felt fine and a decent number of people were out enjoying the mild weather. Good for them, and good for me.

Buddy Run

The Formerly Virtual Running Partner (FVRP) came over this morning at 10 and we went 6 miles on an overcast Saturday. He went 5 or so, with some bits of walking thrown in as he's building his back up. It was quite humid because of the rain the past few days.

Apparently there was a race somewhere along the route because we saw a couple of groups of girls monitoring, and on our way back one group was packing up and gave us their last two bottles of water.

We also passed a group of 7-8 women running with a tall guy, and as we passed they saw the FVRP's shirt, which was a tech t from last year's marathon in Tulsa. They told us that's what they're training for and this was their last long run. I didn't tell them about how I had a great 20 miles at that race - no use bringing them down. I wished them a good time in Tulsa when I passed by again on the way back from the turnaround.

This was also my first time using the arm strap for my iPhone. Not sure how I like it yet. It didn't irritate me in any way, but it did mist up a little inside due to the humidity and a slight bit of mist during part of the run. Also, The Wife called about 1.5 miles into the run and I wasn't sure if it had paused my run because the music stopped playing. It was a little awkward fumbling with the phone to get the run going again. It was probably because I had the phone locked. I'm sure it would have been just as much of a pain taking the phone out of my waist holder. I went to the arm strap because the belt holds my shorts in place and seems to cause chafing I didn't experience before, even with Body Glide. Hopefully next time is a little better. I certainly don't expect a call at 7 a.m. on my next run.

Lunch Run

I planned to skip the early morning run today and go out at midday since my schedule worked out favorably. The Formerly Virtual Running Partner wanted to go out to lunch, so I said let's run and then go out. And we did. He's still recovering from plantar and some shin issues, so we ran 3 miles and called it good. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, sun shining and pleasant temperatures. If Texas was like this all year you wouldn't have enough room for all the people who would live here.

Dark Run

I ran yesterday morning, the usual 6 miles, but forgot to post about it. Since I went out at 6:15 a.m. it was pretty dark, other than the illumination from the full moon. It was nice and peaceful. By the time I finished it was still dark, but had lightened just enough so I could stop using my hand-light (it's not a head light any more). BTW, that thing has been useful - I used it for grilling brats and sausages last night at about 7:30, which was again in the dark.

Back to the run - it was nice and I felt good afterward. I should have gone running on Saturday. We had rain in the area but it wasn't thundering and there were enough gaps where I could have gone. Instead I spent most of the day cleaning out the garage. Then on Sunday we went geocaching, which was our first experience with that activity. I stepped on the scale this morning, which I rarely do, and I'm up to almost 170. That's a clear sign I need to stop being lazy and get back to running and exercising regularly.

Before the Rain

Rain is forecast for the next four days or so, which was enough to motivate me out the door this morning. Without that push I might not have made it. I'm hoping the time change in another week will help, but this is the first time I've ever run regularly in the mornings, and it's been tough. I hope I can keep it going all winter long.

This morning I ran my usual 6 miles. From the start I noted it was more humid as the storm front pushes in from the west. For the most part I kept my speed reined in so as not to poop out later in the run. I ran a couple of intervals at miles 2.5 and 3.5, and I started the last at 4.5 but ended up slowing down. Still, that mile was only seven seconds slower than the previous one. I walked up the big hill on Lake Forest, but overall I feel pretty good about the outing. We'll see how it goes on Saturday and whether or not I can get out for a nice enjoyable run in the rain.

Lazy

The past week was not a good one for my exercise habits. I'd like to blame it on getting ready for Mom's birthday party and other factors, but the truth is that as the sun rises later each morning I'm having trouble getting myself out of bed. In summer there's plenty of motivation to get up and out before the day gets hot, but not so much on the mornings where it's still dark and getting cooler. At least this morning I broke the string and made it for a 6-miler. It was a decent run, not my fastest, and I kept away from speedwork this time. Here's to getting back in the groove.

More Speeding

This morning I thought I was going to have to turn around before I even made it one mile. On Sunday afternoon I played ball and frisbee with the kids. The baseball was mainly playing catch, and then throwing some BP to The Boy with a moderate amount of fielding. Apparently those movements, at my age, can wreak havoc on knees. I felt it a little yesterday when I did my leg exercises, and again today when it felt like my whole left side, knee and hip, was out of whack. I walked for a few steps, then picked it back up again. A few minutes later I felt the same thing, and this time I sped up a little. It seems when your body takes over with muscle memory that you stop thinking so much about the details - and it worked.

The rest of the 6 miles went according to plan, except when I dropped my head lamp at the turnaround and the batteries popped out. Nevertheless I was able to get it put back together and made it home with speedups at 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5. Once I got past the initial issues it was a fine run. Almost too cool, and I wondered why I hadn't put on a long-sleeved shirt before I left. No need, though, since it warmed up by the time I was finished.

Five Good Miles. Too Bad I Went Eight

I knew as I was running that my pace was a little too fast, and I kept trying to rein it in. Through five miles I was at about 9:15/mile. I wasn't sucking wind or anything, but it was enough to make me walk a little bit at 5 1/2 miles, and again at 6 1/2, and finally up the big hill on Lake Forest. At least the first part was good. It's a beautiful day, with moderate temperatures and the trace of a breeze. And lots of sun. Plenty of people were out enjoying the morning, and I can't say I blame them. I wish it could be this nice all fall and winter.

Another Good One

Today I kicked up the speed for a tempo run, from miles 2 to 5. According to the Nike app my fastest portion was miles 4-5 at an 8:50 pace. The overall pace was 9:37, which is not bad considering three of those miles were at a comfortable pace. With the lower temperatures I suppose I can get back to some faster running. It was a little humid today, but not horrible. Also, last night was the first night I can remember in a long time where I slept straight through until the alarm clock rang. Usually I'll wake up at some point, whether briefly or for an extended period. When this happens I have to make sure I note it - it's rare.

More Speed

I ended up not running in San Antonio. We were in a pretty industrial part of the city and there wasn't any place close by to run. I did get in a lot of walking though, around Lackland and in downtown San Antonio. So much walking on the base that I don't think I missed out on much by not running.

Yesterday was back to normal. I was going to run Monday morning but ended up awake during the night for a couple of hours, so I cancelled the alarm. Tuesday was better, and the temperature was almost perfect, in the mid-50s. It was great! I did the same workout as last week with three intervals, and recorded my fastest mile yet, according to the Nike app. It was something like 8:42/mile, which is kind of sad and funny at the same time. Sad because I've run much faster than that in the past, and funny because I only ran fast during half of that mile. Guess that leaves room for improvement.

Speeding Up

I skipped Tuesday morning's run since we're going to be out of town for a few days and I decided it was better to run on Wednesday. That way in case I don't get out while in San Antonio the gap between runs will be a day less. I also decided that putting in some speedwork would be a good thing. To that end during today's 6-miler I threw in some uptempo intervals at the 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 marks, for a half-mile each time. My fastest mile was the last of those, at an 8:57 pace. That means I must have been around 8 minutes for the interval portion since the other half of that mile was probably in the high 9's.

As usual, it was nice to stretch it out after such a long time without any speed. We'll see if I can sneak away for a run this weekend.

Post-Super Blood Moon

Last night we had some high clouds, and our view of the Super Blood Moon was not very clear. We could see enough to tell the eclipse was occurring, and caught a hint of red, but it was all blurry. Guess we'll have to wait another 18 years to see it in focus.

This morning I ran 4 miles, listening to the first Hootie and the Blowfish album. That brought back some memories. I often criticize the 90s for being such a crappy decade for music, but at least there was one good album that came out of that decade. Since I was running a short distance I slept a half-hour later than normal and left the house at 6:45 a.m. It was light enough by then and I didn't have to use my light. Tomorrow we will return to our normally scheduled time.

Lovely Saturday Not Racing

As soon as I headed out this morning I noticed a lot of traffic flooding into the high school parking lot across from our neighborhood. What is this? I thought to myself. Turns out it was a race. And not just any race, but a race where the route went completely along my normal route. I decided quickly that it wasn't about to start and I could get way out in front of any speedsters and then take an alternate route home.

Well, by the time I was on the "back" part of the "out and back" I still didn't see any runners, which seemed strange. I started running about 7:40 a.m. and thought for sure I would run into a sea of humanity. The longer it went on the more I wondered about the start time. The people at all the water stations seemed relaxed, so I kept going. It was about 1.5 miles from home that I encountered the first wave, which turned out to be a hundred people or so strung out along the trail. I kept out of their way, even receiving a clap/cheer from one guy who apparently thought I was leading the race and already heading back toward the finish line. I guess they started around 8:45. I was surprised since I thought there'd be more runners. Apparently those were the 10k participants, as I was about to find out.

Once I'd reached Lake Forest and crossed the street I heard starting horns from the school parking lot. I stopped to watch. A large crowd poured out onto the sidewalk, complete with kids, walkers, and running strollers. Those were apparently the 5k participants, and there were several hundred of them. It was nice to see such a large group.

As far as my run, I went 8 miles on a really nice morning. The temperature was around 70, sunny, and just plain nice. Humidity was up slightly but not as bad as last month. All in all it was a good morning with the highlights of seeing a lot of other people out running and having a good time.

Getting Back to It

Last Saturday I didn't run, mainly because of sheer laziness. It also rained, but as it turned out it would have been a great storm in which to run, not too heavy and no lightning. The Wife and I went to the flea market and did some shopping, plus I had other things to do when arriving home, and I just sloughed off the whole running bit.

Monday morning I ran 4 miles, and felt great. It was one of my better runs lately - fresh legs, good temperature, and great attitude.

Which didn't transfer over to Tuesday. I woke up a few times in the early morning hours and decided it was better to sleep an extra 90 minutes that it was to exercise.

Ditto Wednesday, which was actually more laziness (see Saturday) than bad sleep.

Today, however, I sprang out of bed (overdramatic interpretation) and hit the streets as planned. The run was another good one. The temperatures at this time of year are hovering around 70 degrees before the sun comes up, but the most noticeable change is the decreased humidity. That makes a TON of difference in how the run progresses. My average pace is getting better, and I'm even thinking about throwing in some speedwork next week.

Morning Outing

Back to morning running with another 6-mile jaunt. I knew it was going to be humid and wasn't disappointed. Instead of running with my headlamp on my actual head, I carried it in my hand. That seemed to work better, since once it lightened up enough I clipped it over my belt. I ran through several swarms of gnats or some small black bugs, and came home to find a number of dead ones engulfed in  my arm sweat. In spite of that it was a decent run, albeit slow. The overall pace was about 10:50/mile, but I ran it all and didn't walk. I traded speed for endurance, I suppose. Fair enough for today.

Texas Afternoon

After yesterday's debacle of a drive home from KC, I decided it would be best to not run this morning. I just knew that it wouldn't go well and that I needed sleep more than I needed to exercise. The 8 1/2 hour trip took 12 hours due to issues with our vehicle, and 3/4ths of that was stressed-out driving. I was going to run tomorrow morning and then Thursday as well, but today the temperature wasn't too bad because of all the cloud cover. Which means, of course, that when I headed out the door the sun started shining.

I went 6 miles and, due to the heat being in the high 90s along with the sun and humidity, walked every half-mile once I got to the two-mile mark. That worked out just fine and I was able to complete the outing without incident. My calves felt tight but I attribute that to yesterday's stress more than anything else. Now I can get back on schedule for morning runs.

Eight in Smithville

Today was one of those elusive perfect days. Absolutely gorgeous. 70 degrees and sunny, without wind, on our weekend visit to KC. This  morning I went for a run at Smithville Lake. I've run part of this path before, but this time I started from the other end. I went 8 miles and felt good the whole way. The setting was beautiful and I couldn't have asked for a better day to run.

Throwback Thursday

Since we're in Kansas City for a few days I ran my old route, all 6 miles of it. I planned on running in the morning but after our trip yesterday (transmission problems with the van, visit to urgen care for The Wife), the comedy of errors gave me an excuse to sleep a little longer. The temperature was 88 degrees when I started out at 5 p.m. with lots of nice sunshine. I thought several times about walking but since this will probably be my last time to ever run this route I wanted it to be without stopping for a walk. I kept the pace purposefully slow and it paid off. Since I"m using the Nike running app on my iPhone now I was interested in how the GPS would work compared to the Garmin I used to use. It turned out pretty close, telling me my run was over about a block early. That could be because I crossed Shoal Creek to run in the shade, though, so no complaints. For my purposes it's close enough. And for one final time it was nice to run a familiar route. Wonder how many times I actually ran that same route over the years? A few hundred? Since I've logged more than a thousand runs on this unread blog I'm guessing at least three hundred, and if you add in longer runs that included it as part of a longer route the number probably goes up by another hundred.

When I was done running I walked back to the sidewalk on 96th Street and took pictures of my footprints in the concrete. When they first poured that section I was running east on 96th and tried to stay on the road but had to jump onto the not-quite-dry sidewalk to avoid getting run over. My Asics left faint prints behind and I've been meaning to take a picture of the evidence. Today I finally got it.

Headlight

Today was my first day using the head torch (I like that better than head lamp, sounds more dangerous). I found a couple of interesting things about it. First, it was a pain to carry four miles when the light outside was enough for me to take it off after two. Second, when you run through swarms of bugs with a head torch those bugs dive bomb the light, often missing and getting into your eyes. Finally, it probably looked pretty dorky but I don't care because it worked just fine.

All that said, my outing was not a good one, but this was the last day of really high temperatures for the season. I don't know about the humidity in the near future, but today it was way high. I ran the first four and then walked twice the rest of the way. No apologies since it was rough out there. When I took off my technical t-shirt it probably held a half-gallon of sweat. The forecast looks like summer is done. I don't mind the heat, but for running purposes it will be nice if the humidity dries up a little.

Humidity Wins

Went over to the (formerly Virtual) Running Partner's place to go for a Saturday morning run. We headed out a 7 a.m. but that didn't help much against the high humidity. I was going to run at least 6 but ended up with 5. It was one of those days where the extra mile wouldn't have made any difference unless it was in a negative way.

Yesterday I downloaded the Nike app onto my phone so I can track mileage and we'll see if that works in place of a dedicated GPS device. I also need something to help with pace and again, the jury is out on whether or not this is the way to go. More study needed.

Awesome Run

Today was the best run I've had in ages. I went 6 miles, no walking, and felt great at the end. Maybe it was the new shirt I wore. Either way, this was the run I've been working toward. I wore a blinking red light since I was out before sunrise, and the headlamp I ordered should be in by tomorrow so I can start using that next week.

I ran the usual path, and when I reached the turnaround point a guy was coming my way. About a third of a mile later he passed me, and I kept up with his pace for the next ten minutes or so. Saw a few other people out, some of whom I recognize as "regulars" at that time of the morning. The temperature was normal, in the mid-70s, and the humidity was just as bad as it usually is. Regardless, I had a great outing and wish every run felt this good.

Back to Normal

Made it back to 6 miles on a weekday run yesterday. I plan on keeping this going so that returns to my normal outings. I started out a little earlier to get it in before going to work, and I found I was running in the dark. That didn't decrease the humidity any, but it did make for a little bit of startlement when a cat jumped away from me when I was only a couple of steps away on the sidewalk. Since it's not going to get better for about the next six months or so, I ordered a headlamp (or torch, in the UK) today. It might not be the coolest thing to wear, but it'll be dark. And as I run through the park it'll be nice to see where I'm going.

I woke up a couple of times Monday night/Tuesday morning with a twinge in my right calf. I thought it might limit my distance, but after the first half-mile it didn't bother me at all. I felt it again this morning, though, so in my usual unfashionable way I'm wearing a compression sleeve on that calf today. Plus my plantar sock on my left foot. Feels like I'm turning into an old man, or at least dressing like one.

Another Monday

It was about 77 degrees this morning with the usual ration of humidity. I ran 4 miles along the usual route. The school zone seems to have calmed down since the happenings of last week. By the time I headed back, almost 7:30, the traffic was almost all but done. It's funny that I already recognize several people who are regulars along the path, but it's also surprising that there aren't more people out every morning. I suppose that says something about society in general, but let's not go there today. I don't have the stomach for it.

Saturday Outing

I ran 2 miles on Saturday morning with the girls, and then another 4 miles on my own. The first part went fine, even though Daughter #3 had to walk a couple of times due to stomach pains. We tried a new route, taking the street out of the neighborhood and running by the pool, and then west on Virginia Parkway and back. It's funny how you never notice hills when you're driving, but when you're running they become more pronounced and obvious. They weren't bad but did have an effect. At least it was downhill coming back into the neighborhood.

For the second half I ran the usual route on the concrete path. The first part went well, but after the turnaround I had to walk a few times. The humidity and lack of sleep the night before finally got to me. I also walked up the big hill on Lake Forest. Not a great outing, but at least I got back to the 6-mile threshold. This week I'll keep pushing forward.

Distance

Since I no longer have a GPS I mapped out this morning's run last night. I thought I knew about where to turn around, but maybe not so much. When I got to work this morning (yes, I had to go in the office) I mapped it again and found I ran 5.42 miles instead of just 5. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it wasn't really my plan to go 4-5.42-6 this week. I suppose if I cut a run short without too much of an effect, this is probably the same. I felt good the whole way. No harm done, right?

Longer Nights

The nighttime is lasting longer and the sun is raising later as we shuffle toward Autumn. I'm not complaining but I probably need to get some better reflective clothing. I ran 4 miles this morning, and it was another good run. This time I hitched up the iPod and listened to a podcast, with more to come over the next several outings. They're a good distraction. It's a good start to a day where I have to be in the office. Traffic was stupid busy on 121 and on the surface streets. Not looking forward to going back in on Thursday.

Back to School

I ran 3 miles this morning and discovered the insanity that is the school zone in our neighborhood. Not sure if it's because we're at the start of the school year and everyone is learning how things work or if it's like this all year long. Either way, the only effect on me was to run down the sidewalk a little more before crossing the street. The effect on the couple of people I saw stopped for speeding will probably be a little more. I've seen plenty of people speeding through school zones in the past, but come on, right at the beginning of school? Use your brains, people. Personally I don't think it's ever appropriate, but certainly anybody with a little common sense should know the police are going to be all over it when school starts. Oh, well. At least I had a good run and felt like I could have gone a lot more.

Sister and Wamego

My Friday outing was with my sister in Wamego, Kansas, which is the first time I ever remember running with her. She maintained she would be running slow. And we did. The (formerly Virtual) Running Partner was with us as well, and we paced about 11 minutes per mile over 3 miles. That was fine with me. The route took us past the Caterpillar location there and in a loop through a park. It was a nice, cool morning, perfect for running. Later in the day we celebrated my parents' 50th anniversary. I joked that our run meant we could "eat and drink whatever we wanted." Not quite.

Spa Running

When I exited the house this morning the humidity was dense. The sun wasn't up yet and the temperature was down because of clouds, but the moisture in the air was certainly noticeable. I took yesterday off due to travel this week and trying to space out my runs, and that helped me complete the 4 miles without walking, even up the big hill. I encountered high schoolers heading back from their morning cross-country run, and I mused briefly that not only was I running against the tide of kids but also against the tide of youth. That was as philosophical as I dared to venture.

As mentioned last time, I put heel inserts into my new shoes. That seemed to do the trick, although it made the midfoot tighter, especially on the right foot. My big toe on that foot also felt like it was in danger of getting pounded enough for a bruising. Next run is with one of my sisters in Kansas and I'll try the inserts again and see how it goes.

False Start

I ran 3 miles in the new shoes this morning, but it wasn't a good outing. It was a little cooler than it has been lately, but I just felt out of sorts. Within the first half-mile I felt a twinge on the left side of my left quad, and thought for a moment I would have to turn around and go home. It went away but still felt "there" for most of the run. My calves also tightened up big time, and it made me wonder if the problem all along with that issue has been my shoes. They haven't felt that bad the whole time I've been running with the Nimbus, but as soon as I put on the Cumulus they went bad. I'm thinking about using a shoe insert to elevate my heels in these new shoes to see how it goes.

New Route

This morning I went 5 miles and decided to head south on Lake Forest Drive. The nice thing is that the trip back had plenty of downslopes, and really they weren't that bad on the way out. The route is scenic enough, but too many side streets and too many cars. In the future I might stick with the trail since there's only one street to cross. That'll depend on how bad traffic is once school starts, though.

I also took a trip to the local running store at lunch. My most recent set of shoes are too narrow and pinch my feet about mid-foot on the outer edges. Plus I needed some anti-chafing stuff. The guy at the store said he likes 2Toms sport shield, and I figured I'd give it a try. They didn't have any shoes on sale, so I ended up with a new pair of Gel Cumulus in the wider variety. He also brought out a New Balance, which I tried on one foot, but I'm going to stick with what works. The new shoes were $120, and when I got home I checked them on Amazon. They were only three bucks cheaper there. At least I don't feel like I was ripped off.

Tuesday Morning Finisher

I was looking forward to Tuesday's run but it turned out to be kind of a not-so-good run. I ran 4 miles, but that included a little walking at the halfway point and back up the hill toward the neighborhood. I think the problem was that on Monday I ran, exercised, and then washed my truck (in the evening but still the temp was around 100). Those combined to wear me out a little more than normal. On Thursday my plan is to go for five and take a different route. Hoping it goes better.

Monday Morning Starter

Time to start a new week, a hot one if you believe the forecasts, with a run. I was out the door by 6:45 and ran a mostly easy 3 miles. On the way out I saw only one person, a lady with her dog. On the way back probably a half dozen. Some of the people are beginning to look familiar, like the lady with the big sunglasses or the guy with his three Huskies. The morning was nice and humid, as usual. I was glad to get it finished before the heat of the day descended.

Five for Running

This morning, a Saturday, I got up early and went over to the (formerly Virtual) Running Partner's house. We headed out to avoid the heat and weren't entirely successful, but still better than later in the morning. Our route took us 5 miles, the first time since moving that I've run that far. Felt good, and I should be able to continue adding miles. Afterward we went to Central Market in south Plano and enjoyed the Hatch green chile fest that was going on. I bought several green chile items, including bacon, which I'll be trying tomorrow. The rich harvest and month-long celebration might make August my favorite month.

Oops

Ran yesterday and thought about posting several times but never did. So yes, I ran 4 miles. Daughter #2 joined me and did the run-walk-run-walk-run thing. She probably got in 1.5 miles or so. Once again we went early before it heated up. Coming back I barely got ahead of a group of girl campers (or something) who were headed to the pond from up by the elementary school. Don't know if they were going fishing or what but fortunately I didn't have to wade through the crowd.

I've also done my barbell and leg exercises three times this week, so I've got that going for me. Which is nice.

Two in a Row

Ran both yesterday and today, with varying results. Yesterday was with Daughter #3 (#2 backed out because her ankle hurt). I ran 3 miles and she ran probably about half that. We ran to the trail in the neighborhood north of her, she started walking and I kept running, I turned around and so did she, and then I caught up to her where the trail intersected with the neighborhood sidewalk. Then we ran back with a little walk up the big hill. It was fun at the end when she started sprinting for the stopping point and we raced to the line. Looks like she's a little bit of her competitor like her dad.

This morning I ran 4 miles, and it was actually quite pleasant out, relatively speaking. The sky was cloudy and temperature in the low 70s. Lots of people out. On the trail a young shirtless guy went breezing past me, and then he passed me going the opposite way before my turnaround. When I came back out across the bridge he was off the path with hands on his knees, obviously pretty winded. I kept going and on Lake Forest he passed me again. Just a thought, dude - you might be going too fast and need to take it easier, no matter how young you are. In my plodding way I made it to my goal without walking. Just sayin'.

Boys Run

The (formerly Virtual) Running Partner came over early on Saturday and we ran 4 miles. It was a good start to a day that involved smoking three pork butts and three racks of ribs. Plus a game of penny can, which included three rounds in a row of someone draining all three (him twice, me once). It was epic. What a great day of running, food, music, and just general hanging out. As an added bonus one of the local markets got in a shipment of Hatch green chile and yes, I went crazy. They roast them out front of the store and it smelled like home.