Cooler Weather

This morning's run took place in temperatures around 60 degrees. My overall pace was 9:57/mile, which has to be the first time in about six months that I've been under 10. It's amazing what a 35 point drop in both temperature and humidity will do. It was a good 4 miles, and the knee feels just fine. I'm looking forward to running over the next few months.

Also, on Monday and Wednesday I tried out the punching bag and enjoyed it, working up a good sweat both times. I also found that The Clash is good workout music, which I already knew for running but it's also great for cross-training.

The Rare Sunday Run

The knee was feeling better today, although not 100%, but I decided to test it out after a rainy Sunday. If I looked back and compiled statistics on which day of the week I've run the least, Friday is probably #1 and Sunday a close second. And that's only because many races are on Sunday, giving Friday the edge. I ran 4 miles without stopping and sweat like crazy because of the humidity. At five o'clock on a Sunday afternoon I didn't see anyone else out, except Daughter #2 walking the dogs when I walked back onto our block. I guess the rain, end of the weekend, or Sunday football kept people inside.

Afterward my knee feels fine. There were a couple of times I felt out of kilter, but I concentrated and tried to get my stride back in line. We'll see how it feels tomorrow.

On another note, we hung a punching bag in the garage, mostly for the kids, but I tried it out on Saturday and actually enjoyed the change of pace. Planning on trying it again tomorrow. This method was waaaaaaay cheaper than trying a month at one of the trendy boxing workout places.

Sitting Out

On Saturday morning I started out my run pretty well, the right knee not giving me any immediate problems. By the half-mile point it was starting to bark at me, and I decided right there to turn around and not risk further aggravation. If you're doing the math at home, that means I ran 1 mile. Since then the knee has that feel that makes me know it's there, but it's not really that sore or anything. Not really even an ache, just a tenderness of some kind. Since I'm traveling this week for work I plan on sitting out the week and taking it easy. Hopefully by next Saturday I'll be good to go.

Run with a Tweak

This morning's 4-miler went okay for the most part, but a couple of times I felt a little wonky in my right knee. Nothing too bad, but I think it relates to the strength of the muscles around it. I used to do ankle weight exercises that would help out with hamstrings and hips. I apparently need to get back to those. I walked a couple of times and tried to relax, and that seemed to help. At one point, though, I felt like I was limping and that caused me to walk. Not good, but at least I caught it before hurting myself.

Unlazy

It was a Monday morning, and I actually got up and went for a run. The temperature was down, and even the humidity was a little lower than usual. I could tell because I didn't start sweating profusely until almost the mile mark. All in all it was a pleasant morning. Saw the usual people out walking their dogs. It was a nice 4 miles. Let's see if that holds.

Lower Temperature, Higher Humidity

Rain was forecast for this morning, and I decided since it was going to be cloudy I would sleep in a bit and then run. The rainfall wasn't much, but I was right about the clouds sticking around. It was 69 degrees when I headed out, the lowest temperature I've run in since...what, April? March? I enjoyed that part of the run, but the humidity had to be in the 90s. My sunglasses were so fogged by the first mile that I decided to forego them before I stumbled into someone or something.

Not a whole bunch of people out on the 6-mile route, but at one point two guys pushing strollers passed in front of me. I felt left out, but not *that* left out. Reminded me of riding a bike 15+ years ago in Tulsa with Daughter #1 in the seat on back, and some wag pulls up beside me and says, "Faster!" I thought to myself, dude, you put a 30 lb. sack of flour on the back of your bike and then we'll talk. Anyway, it was a good run, no walking, and I enjoyed it, even with wiping sweat off my head the whole way. I started off listening to "Comfortably Numb", followed by the whole of Momentary Lapse of Reason, and then "Comfortably Numb" again. It seemed fitting. Plus it was the cut from Delicate Sound of Thunder, the best live version of the song in my opinion. Gilmour shreds the solo at the end and the distortion and feedback must have been something to hear live.

Continuing My Lazy Streak

Monday was a holiday, Tuesday was an early call and a day in the office, and Wednesday was just plain lazy. I think to some degree trying to wake up early and run now that it's dark later every morning. Today I was going to get up early, but once again went back to bed, knowing my meeting schedule was light and I could get out later. Since the temperature is still in the mid-90s I didn't want to run too late, so I headed out at 10 a.m. The sun was shining brightly, and I ran my 4 miles, with walks at each mile, progressively longer. By the time I hit mile 3 my heart rate was up and it was a struggle. I walked about 3 1/2 minutes there and then up the big hill. Once again, not one of the best runs ever but at least I got out there.

Back to 6

It's been four weeks since I ran 6 miles, and that time it involved hills. I was a little less aggressive this time and just ran my regular route. It went well, with a walk break at the 4- and 5-mile marks, but that was just in acknowledgment of the continued high humidity. Even though the temperature was lower the humidity was still up. Fortunately this morning there was a nice breeze, and it really helped on the first half and the last mile. The middle part was with the wind and I struggled a little through that section. When I turned the corner onto Lake Forest and felt the breeze in my face I sighed out loud because it was such a relief.

A Little Better

I hoped the difference in temperature of about 7-8 degrees from yesterday to today would prove helpful, but...not so much. It was still sunny and humid, but this time I was a little smarter. I ran my 4 miles but didn't feel so beat up afterward. After the first mile I walked a minute, even though I felt fine, and at the halfway point walked two minutes. I also did the same after the third mile and then walked up the big hill. Probably a similar amount of walking as yesterday but spaced out better. Once again I learn little lessons along this journey that will hopefully keep me running for decades to come.

Another Gap

Busyness and laziness took their toll on my running schedule this past week. I ran last Thursday and all of a sudden I look up and it's the next Wednesday. I set the alarm Monday morning to get up early and run, but I went back to bed instead. Not one of my finer moments. Today I decided I would run at lunch instead of trying to get up early since my work schedule was actually open. I went out a little before 11 a.m. and the temperature was already in the upper 80s, and very humid. As usual, the first half went okay, and then the last half of my 4 miles ended up with several bouts of walking. At least I sweated a lot. Tomorrow should be more of the same.

Followed by a Thursday Run

School started again on Monday, which I forgot to mention. The early-morning zombies clog the sidewalks out of the neighborhood, starting at their cell phones as they shuffle along the sidewalk. On Thursday morning I got out 15 minutes earlier than normal, which allowed me to avoid the horde. I ran the 4 miles, pretty much the same was Wednesday. Not as strong on the second day in a row, but still managed to get through it in good shape.

A Wednesday Run

Because of early meetings and having to get kids where they needed to be on Tuesday, I ended up running on Wednesday instead. It was a good run, the usual 4 miles, and the usual run up the hill followed by a sprint at the end. I ran both days this week without headphones so far, and it's been kind of a nice break.

Vacation

I didn't intend to take a week off from running, but between rain in Austin and a vacation in Oklahoma it just worked out that way. I'm glad to be back to it this morning, even though the alarm seemed like it rang awful early. I ran my 4 miles in a nice temperature, even though the humidity was still up due to the rains of the last few weeks. I feel like it's time to start getting back up to 6 miles each time out, and I'll be easing back into that routine. It was a good start to the week.

A Little Rain

I was surprised when I stepped out the door this morning and it was sprinkling. I paused a few moments to see if it was going to intensify, but it trailed off and I set out for my Monday morning 4-mile run. About 1.5 miles in it started sprinkling again and kept that up for the rest of my run. It wasn't too bad at any point, though, and even more important, there was not any lightning. That would have sent me back inside quickly. When the alarm went off I thought several times about staying put, but I'm glad I got out the door. All in all it was another good run, with the ending run up the hill followed by a sprint. This is becoming a tradition. Or something.

Quality over Quantity

My plan was to run 6 miles on Saturday morning. About two hundred yards into the run I was sweating from the humidity already, due to rain on Friday. I quickly pondered my options, since I usually don't get the humidity sweats for at least a half-mile. Option 1 was to go ahead and try to kick out 6 miles, knowing that I would probably have to walk several times. Option B was to run 4 miles and run it the whole way, including up the hill with the sprint at the end. I chose Option II and I think it was the wiser choice.

Friday was the last hundred degree day of the season, although we'll still have temperatures in the 90s for several more weeks. Hopefully the humidity will also start a decline and I can do some more speed work and pick a fall race.

Thursday's Run

It was another good run on Thursday morning. Either I've finally become accustomed to the humidity here at the end of summer, or the humidity is lower. It's not, so I'm going to have to go with the first option. I ran my 4 miles a little faster than normal, by only 30 seconds or so for the first few miles, but I still had enough gas to run up the big hill and sprint the last bit in the neighborhood. Today (Friday) is actually supposed to be the last day of hundred degree weather. Sad. Even though the next week looks like more rain and cooler temperatures, I'm sure summer isn't ready to give up the ghost yet.

Back to Normal

This morning I ran my 4-mile route and it went well. I was a little worried since I started sweating from the humidity at the half-mile mark, well before it usually hits. Beyond that it really wasn't much worse than all the other runs lately. I also ran up the big hill and sprinted the last fifth of a mile. Not bad for a run on a day where the temperature later spiked up to 101 degrees.

Saturday Hill Run

It's been awhile since I ran hills, and decided Saturday was the day. I also wanted to run 6 miles, which counts as a "long" run during the dog days of summer. The first three miles went okay, but out of the second half I probably walked more than a mile. It was sooooo humid, and barely any breeze at all. In fact, I don't remember a breeze other than from passing cars. Still, I needed to get out and sweat a little before going to a Frampton concert that night. Which by the way, was really really good.

Another Good One

Today was just as good as, if not better than, Tuesday's run. Same course, same running all the way, and even better sprint at the end. The 4 miles went by without incident, which is all you can ask sometimes. The sun is rising a little bit later every day. In a few months I suppose I'll have to think about running at lunch, if my work schedule will allow. It wouldn't have worked very well this week.

Ran Yesterday

It was another 4-miler on a Tuesday morning, and believe it or not I ran the whole way. Including up the big hill. And a kick at the end. Not sure if the humidity was down slightly or what else happened, but it felt good. The temperatures this week are in the upper 90s and around 100, which means any morning cooldowns are still in the future. My weight, which I usually ignore, is up higher than normal, and think I need to run more hills since that always helped in the past. That's my plan for Saturday morning's longer run.