Easy does it

In an attempt to ignore all pre-competition common sense, I decided to plan a long run the same day as my indoor soccer game on Memorial Day Monday. Did I also mention that the game was at 11:20PM? The run was fine but my legs had no quickness at all. This issue was compounded by the fact that the team we played was entirely comprised of super-speedy 5'4" Hispanic gentlemen who proceeded to run around me at every opportunity. Oh, forgetful me...due to the late start time, we only had 1 sub, of which I only availed myself once for 1:30 after being kicked in the knee. Following the game I decided that since technically I was still doing a speed workout (very) early Tuesday morning, I was covered and therefore would not wake up for my morning run. That leads me to this morning. I figured I'd be rested and ready to jump back in the saddle. No such luck. I set my own personal slowness mark for a 3 miler, returning to my house in about 30:20. I think tomorrow will be better.

Save my Habit!

Since returning from SoCal I have had a horrible time getting motivated. I ran the 5K yesterday at a ridiculously slow pace and purposely skipped this morning. Please, help me salvage the good habit that I have developed.

Sea level laziness

Despite my assertions that I would put in some mileage while in LA this past weekend, I was unable/willing to do so. My son took exactly 0% of the naps that he normally does and the combination of no time and less energy meant that I missed 3 straight days. I tried to get back into it this morning, but I work up too late to put in a solid run. I managed 2.35 (it was a new route) in 8:05s, but felt good enough to lift my spirits and expectations for tomorrow morning.

Big miles

True to my word, I increased my morning milage this morning. I ran nearly...4 miles (gasp). I'm moving into ultra-marathon range here.

It was an ok run, but my soreness is hanging around for a frustratingly long time. To be descreet, my "upper legs"-front and back-are still underperforming due to pain. I felt like the effort I put in was greater than the 8:25 pace should have required. I leave for California tomorrow morning and hope to put in some sea-level milage over the weekend.

Bring the Pain (today and in September)

I've survived the soreness of my first soccer game of the season and am very proud that the immobility of my legs and torso didn't keep me from running. As I mentioned earlier, I struggled through a crap 2-miler yesterday morning, but was much better this morning. I did my standard 5K route and held my own. The pace was about 8:15s but full body pain and a really slow pace yesterday made it feel harder.

I have decided that I cannot continue with the short runs if I intend to run my marathon this year...oh wait, I may not have ever mentioned that this was my goal. Yes, my plan is to run a marathon with my baby sister this fall and thus I need longer than 3.1 miles a morning and 5 mile weekend runs. In the short-term I am going to try to gradually move toward 4-5 mile weekly runs (though if it is a choice between doing 3 miles and not running, I'll still do the 5K) and 6-8 miles on the weekends.

Same Days, Different Person

Saturday and Sunday (and Monday since I took it off) were crap on paper, but fitness-wise it wasn't too bad.
Saturday I ran exactly zero miles and in fact stood around while me wife ran a 5k. In my defense I was responsible for caring for my son and followed that up with transporting the same 8 tons of rock for the second weekend in a row (my Grandpa would have been mortified by the inefficiency).
Sunday I put in a solid 5er at 8:18/miles. It was pushed but not hard. I returned to my slow start method but turned it up at the end to get a decent overall pace.
Monday I walked several miles during our family day and ended the day with an indoor soccer game - which promptly destroyed my legs for this morning's horrible but necessary 2 miler (10:00/miles).

Saturday and Sunday

Between Saturday and Sunday, I ran about 4 miles. Saturday morning, I did a pretty fast mile on the track and then a slow one. Then Sunday afternoon, I got new tires on the double jog stroller and took the boys out for a leisurely 2.4 in 19 minutes.

Lazy Friday

I was feeling lethargic this morning so I casually coasted my way to a 8 min/mile 5k despite my desire to skip the day completely. I need to get myself up to more weekly mileage and 3.1/day isn't going to do it. I think it will come...maybe. Yesterday - before I became a poster on this blog - I made the following statement in a comment:

I am suspicious of the chronometer this morning. I pulled a full 5k in 21:34 which equates to just under 7s/mile.

Having done the same out and back 5k route most days for over a week, I can now say that I have even less confidence in the ol' Forerunner's accuracy. In the last 3 days, I have made the turnaround at 3 different points with about 60-80 yards of variance. I don't think this disqualifies the speedy effort mentioned above, but it certainly makes me want to get a solid turnaround position for consistency.

4:30 in the morning

It's not uncommon for me to be restless as night, and I just couldn't go back to sleep after a 1:30-ish wakeup by the younger boy. I'm going crazy over the potential job opportunity I'm looking into, and the "snoring" standby light of my laptop seemed incredibly bright in the wee hours. So I got up and read a book for a while, and then at 4:30, pulled on some running shorts and a long sleeve shirt, strapped on my Garmin forerunner and my mp3 player, and headed out the door.

I did the same 6 mile route I did a few Wednesdays ago in 8:25's. From home, north on Academy to the light pole at Dublin and back. Saw a few cyclists and watched the sunlight fill the dark morning sky. It was pretty nice, though my hands were cold from running through the sprinklers watering the sidewalks.

The Regional Track and Field meet starts today, and I'm excited (and a little nervous) about the 1600m.

I feel like a new man...or the new man.

Mike, you may want to verify this, but I have no illusions that anyone else reads this blog. That's ok, it serves its purpose as a motivational training aid.

Slicky and I will start playing soccer on Monday so I may post occationally on the fitness aspects of this muy bueno speed workout.

2 in the morning

This morning, I came to work with my running shorts under my work clothes so I could get out of the carpool, drop my stuff in the gym, and run a little. I got in two miles (a simple out-and-back affair). The first mile was mostly uphill (8:08) and the turnaround was a bit faster (7:24) which was, admittedly, a little quick. But when the buses are all approaching the school, you don't want to look like you're loafing. My last quarter was 1:33 (which was actually on the flat-ish sidewalk by the parking lot), but it sure felt good.

I'll try and run again a little this afternoon - nice and easy.

3 in 23:30

I managed to sneak in a run during my planning period and got in a good 3, not too hard, but not my easy pace. 7:50's in the hot sun on a hilly course. Felt good.

Wasting Work Time

In response to Matt's comment on my most recent post (practically my most recent run), I must admit I haven't been posting simply because I haven't been running. It's so hard to fit into the schedule. If I don't do it now, it won't get done, and "now" usually means before work.

That being said, last night at 9:30 (after the boys were in bed) I managed to fit in 3 miles on the boring treadmill at 7.0 (which I think is roughly 8:35's).

I'm going to try and get in another 3 miles during my lunch break today, but who knows if that'll actually happen. If I'm not wasting work time posting my workouts, can I really waste work time running?

36 laps in 79 minutes

The word you're looking for is tedium.

We arrived at our meet in Canon City earlier than I suspected, so my pre-meet run went for 9 miles.

I averaged 8:50's, and I felt pretty darn good. I figured I might as well get my week's long run in since I can't count on the weather or an opening in my schedule at home.

If I hadn't done the 50 laps in the gym the other day, I'm not sure I would have survived, but I got the fabled "second wind" at mile seven (though it didn't last as long as I was hoping).

50 laps in 39 minutes

Sounds more impressive than it is. The high school gym is 11 or 12 laps to the mile, so I ran at least four miles and probably 4.5.

Monotonous, yes, but safer than running on foggy streets.